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GAMBLING 

AND  GAMBLING 
DEVICES 


Being  a complete  systematic  educational 
exposition  designed  to  instruct  the  youth  of 
the  world  to  avoid  all  forms  of  gambling. 


By  JOHN  PHILIP  QUINN 

Author  of  “Fools  of  Fortune.” 


CANTON,  O. 

J.  P.  QUINN  CO. 


Copyright,  1912, 

BY 

JOHN  PHILIP  QUINN. 
{All  Rights  Reserved.) 


THE  NEW  WERNER  COMPANY 
AKRON,  OHIO 


IT^.G 

O-TG: 


To 

The  Young  Men  of  the  World 

I respectfully  dedicate 
this  book. 


THE  AUTHOR. 


PREFACE. 


Of  all  the  vices  which  have  enslaved  mankind,  none  can  reckon 
among  its  victims  so  many  as  gambling.  Not  even  the  baneful 
habit  of  drink  has  blighted  so  many  lives  or  desolated  so  many 
homes.  Its  fascination  is  insidious  and  terrible,  and  its  power  is 
all  the  more  to  be  dreaded  in  that  it  appeals  to  a latent  instinct 
in  nearly  every  human  breast.  In  view  of  these  considerations  it 
appears  strange  that  English  literature  contains  but  one  authentic 
work  specially  devoted  to  this  subject,  namely,  “ Fools  of  Fortune,” 
which  was  published  by  the  author  of  this  present  volume,  in  1890. 

For  a quarter  of  a century  the  author  witnessed  and  practiced 
every  variety  of  gambling  known  to  the  profession.  The  next 
quarter  of  a century  he  has  devoted  to  exposing  the  frauds  of  the 
gambler.  Starting  out  in  the  lecture  field,  he  realized  his  efforts 
would  be  futile  unless  he  could  show  the  public  in  a practical  form 
the  evil  attached  to  gambling,  to  accomplish  which  he  took  machin- 
ery captured  from  the  gamblers  and  thereby  succeeded  in  saving 
thousands  of  young  men  from  gambling. 

This  present  volume  is  intended  to  not  only  show  up  the  gam- 
bling profession  in  its  true  form,  but  to  expose  the  implements  used 
to  capture  the  unwary.  It  is  intended  to  educate  the  legislators  of 
our  country  so  that  they  may  intelligently  enact  laws  for  the  sup- 
pression of  this  monster  vice,  and  to  make  them  so  that  there  will 
be  no  loop-hole  large  enough  to  allow  a four-horse  wagon  to  drive 
in  and  out  again ; for  the  benefit  of  the  law  officers  so  that  they 
may  know  exactly  what  a gambling  implement  is ; for  the  ministers 
of  the  Gospel  who  know  that  gambling  exists,  but  cannot  speak  in- 
telligently on  the  subject  because  it  is  foreign  to  them  ; for  the  public 
school  teachers  and  leaders  in  moral  reform  so  that  they  can  demon- 
strate in  a practical  manner  to  their  pupils  and  hearers  the  vicious- 
ness and  rascality  of  the  gambler,  and  the  danger  that  besets  the 
youth  of  to-day ; for  the  parent  that  he  may  be  able  to  warn  the 
son  of  the  dangers  ahead ; and  lastly,  for  the  young  man  himself. 

No  graver  responsibility  can  be  conceived  than  that  which 
rests  upon  the  shoulders  of  the  parent  to  whom  is  intrusted  the 
training  of  a young  man.  Upon  the  manner  in  which  is  fulfilled 
this  sacred  trust,  depends  not  only  the  economic  and  moral  value 


ii  PREFACE. 

of  the  future  citizen,  but  also  the  welfare,  for  time  and  eternity, 
of  a priceless  human  soul.  The  gaming  resort  opens  wide  its 
doors,  the  entrance  to  which  means  ruin,  of  both  body  and  soul. 
Of  what  vital  importance  is  it,  therefore,  that  around  the  youth  of 
the  Republic  every  safeguard  should  be  thrown,  and  that  they 
should  be  shielded  from  temptation  by  exposing  its  fatuous  char- 
acter. “ Forewarned  is  forearmed.” 

The  author  desires  to  return  heartfelt  thanks  to  those  who 
have  aided  him  in  his  task.  He  acknowledges  his  indebtedness  to 
many  clergymen  and  others  who  have  given  him  encouragement, 
especially  to  Dr.  Lyman  Abbott  who  suggested  that  a work  of  this 
kind  be  presented  in  a cheaper  form  than  “ Fools  of  Fortune,”  and 
that  it  should  be  in  the  hands  of  all  the  young  men  of  America. 

JOHN  PHILIP  QUINN. 

Canton,  O.,  1912. 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

A Brief  Sketch  of  the  Author 1 

The  Three  Stages  of  a Gambler’s  Life 27 

Poker,  including  Holding-Out,  Shiners,  Stud  Poker 29 

Faro  44 

Diana  Game  5o 

Three  Card  iMonte  .■ 50 

Tipping  the  Hand  58 

Roulette  (various)  60 

Social  Card  Playing:  The  Kindergarten  to  the  Gambling  Hell  74 

The  Upward  Way  82 

The  Downward  Way  8.S 

Gambling  at  Wiesbaden  84 

Wheel  of  Fortune  or  Chuck-a-Luck 89 

Monte  Carlo  Pool  94 

The  Stock  Exchange  95 

Bucket  Shops  105 

Policy  110 

The  Gambler’s  Wife  113 

Dice  (various)  114 

The  New  Mathematical  Block  Game,  or  Rolling  Log 135 

Die  Pins  135 

Star  Pointer  136 

The  Striker  137 

Drop  Cases  (various)  137 

Fish  Pond  144 

Single  Arrow  Chuck-a-Luck  Spindle  and  Table  Layout 145 

New  Idea  Cigar  Machine 145 

Gravitation  Ball  Game  146 

Cane  Rack 147 

The  O’Leary  Belt  14S 

Shell  Game  149 

Tivoli  or  Bagatelle 150 

The  Jenny  Wheel  153 

Bee  Hive  153 

Squeeze  Spindles  (various)  155 

Jewelry  159 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Needle  Wheel 161 

Corona  or  Mascot  162 

Box  and  Balls 163 

The  Swinging  Ball  165 

Dollar  Store  or  Drop  Case 166 

Keno  167 

The  Gambler’s  Luck 169 

Monte  Carlo;  The  Devil’s  University 171 

The  Race  Track:  A National  Vice 179 

The  Poor  Man’s  Club. — Slot  Machines  (various) 188 

Everybody’s  Game  (Pick-out  Card) 228 

Punch  Boards 229 

The  Gambler’s  Child 232 

Don’t  233 

Chicago  234 

The  Gold  Brick  Fraud;  True  Stories  from  Life 248 

China  268 

New  York:  Paradise  of  Gamblers 269 

The  Mighty  Dollar  287 

Arraignment  of  Gambling  in  its  Moral  Aspects  (Abridged) . .291 


A BRIEF  SKETCH  OF  THE  AUTHOR. 


Early  education,  family  training,  and  circumstances  often 
apparently  accidental,  are  potent  factors  in  the  formation  and 
moulding  of  character.  Yet  not  infrequently  an  event  of  seem- 
ingly little  consequence  may  overturn  the  best  considered  plans 
for  a successful  career  and  alter  the  entire  tenor  of  a man’s 
life.  The  invisible  power  “ that  shapes  our  ends,”  to-day,  lifts 
one  born  in  a humble  station  to  a pinnacle  of  fame  and  power, 
while  to-morrow,  it  casts  down  from  its  exalted  position  the 
man  intoxicated  by  the  fumes  of  the  incense  of  popular  adula- 
tion. 

However  upright  may  have  been  my  intentions  at  the  out- 
set of  life,  they  were  early  turned  aside  through  the  influence 
of  my  surroundings  and  of  a seemingly  inborn  propensity  for 
gambling.  After  a long  and  eventful  experience,  I have  turned 
to  a better  life,  and  for  the  past  twenty-six  years  have  fried  to 
atone  for  the  wrong  I committed  during  the  twenty-flve  years 
I wasted  as  a gambler.  My  past  has  not  been  without  interest 
to  those  with  whom  I have  been  in  contact.  It  is  here  reviewed 
very  briefly  with  the  earnest  hope  that  it  may  prove  a warning 
to  many,  who  are  now  bent  upon  a similar  journey. 

If  the  record  of  my  experiences  shall  prove  an  example  to 
deter  even  a few  of  those  who  are  sporting  upon  the  outer 
waters  of  that  whirlpool  whose  vortex  is  destruction ; if  its  re- 
cital shall  serve  to  open  the  eyes  of  but  one  of  that  vast  host 
who  are  staking  fortune,  friendship,  family  affection,  honor, 
even  life  itself,  in  the  vain  pursuit  of  an  illusive  phantom,  this 
sketch  will  not  have  been  written  in  vain. 

I was  born  on  the  19th  day  of  March,  1846,  three  miles 
east  of  Roanoke,  in  Randolph  County,  Missouri.  My  father  was 
a prosperous  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He  was  held  in  high 
esteem  in  the  community,  which  he  represented  in  the  State 
Legislature  during  1861-3.  My  mother  was  a " gentlewoman  ” 
in  what  has  been,  to  me,  the  best  sense  of  that  often-abused 
term.  Her  generous  self-sacrifice,  and  her  all  but  unlimited 
capacity  to  forgive,  none  can  know  so  well  as  the  wayward  son, 
who  numbers  among  his  most  bitter  regrets  to-day  the  recollec- 
tion of  the  years  of  anxiety  and  grief  which  he  brought  upon 

1 


2 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


that  mother’s  head  and  of  the  numberless  pangs  which  he 
caused  that  mother’s  heart. 

As  a boy  I was  mischievous  and  wayward ; a ringleader 
in  all  “ scrapes,”  and  the  terror  of  the  orderly.  Indeed,  my  repu- 
tation as  an  evil  doer  was  so  well  established,  and  my  name  so 
thoroughly  synonomous  with  every  species  of  boyish  deviltry, 
that  I was  often  compelled  to  bear  the  blame  of  escapades 
which  I had  not  conceived,  and  in  which  I bore  no  part. 

Foot-racing,  horse-racing',  and  card-playing  were  the  pas- 
times of  the  county.  We  had  card  parties  in  our  home  and  we 
began  to  play  for  fun.  Then  we  got  to  playing  for  stakes  of 
pennies,  then  for  nickels,  then  for  dimes,  and  finally  for  dollars. 
Then  I began  to  look  for  broader  fields  of  action,  for  the  stakes 
were  not  large  enough  for  me.  There  were  six  boys  in  our 
family,  and  the  result  of  our  playing  was  that  five  of  them  be- 
came professional  gamblers. 

iMy  first  venture  from  home  occurred  when  I was  four- 
teen years  of  age.  I picked  up  a halter  strop,  one  end  being  at- 
tached to  my  father’s  horse.  I rode  from  my  home  to  Glasgow, 
Mo.  I sold  the  horse  for  seventy-five  dollars.  M'hile  at  the 
Tremont  Hotel  in  Atchison,  Kansas,  a stranger  walked  up  to 
me  and  said,  “ Good  morning,  young  man.  Are  you  a stranger 
here?  ” I told  him  I was.  “ Have  you  had  your  breakfast?  ” he 
asked? 

” No,  sir,”  I answered. 

“ Well,”  he  replied,  “ before  taking  breakfast,  come  out  with 
me  for  a little  while.  I have  a friend  coming  in  on  the  train.” 

I went  out  with  him.  We  met  his  friend,  and  it  was  only 
a few  minutes  before  they  relieved  me  of  my  seventy-five  dol- 
lars at  three-card  monte — the  three-card  trick — which  at  that 
time  was  new  to  me.  This  friend  turned  out  to  be  his  con- 
federate. 

Being  broke,  I thought  of  what  my  father  had  often  said  to 
my  mother  when  she  worried  about  her  children  when  they 
were  away — “ Don’t  worry,  for  the  chickens  always  come  home 
to  roost ! ” I should  remember  that  phrase  if  I lived  to  be  a mil- 
lion years  old,  and  there  is  more  truth  in  it  than  poetry. 

Knowing  my  situation,  being  robbed  of  all  my  money,  away 
from  home,  and  amongst  strangers,  a feeling  like  unto  that 
which  possessed  the  Prodigal  Son  came  upon  me,  and  I felt  it 
was  time  to  be  up  and  doing.  I went  to  the  railway  station. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


3 


called  for  the  ticket  agent  and  told  him  I wanted  a pass  to  get 
home.  He  told  me  that  he  could  not  give  me  a pass,  and 
that  I should  see  the  superintendent  of  the  road.  I asked 
where  I could  find  him.  He  rang  a little  hand-bell — there  was 


Brother,  promise  me  you  will  never  gamble  any  more.” 


no  electricit}^  then — and  a young  man  came  who  was  ordered  to 
take  me  to  the  superintendent’s  room.  I said,  “Good  morning, 
sir.  I want  you  to  give  me  a pass  to  go  home.” 

“ Give  you  a pass!”  he  exclaimed,  “ AA’hat  for?” 

“ I have  been  robbed  of  all  my  money,”  I replied. 

The  superintendent  was  a kind  man.  He  looked  at  me 
in  a fatherly  way,  and  said,  “Ho'w  did  you  lose  your  money?” 

“ I have  been  gambling,”  I answered. 

“ A\'hat  do  you  do  when  you  are  at  home?”  he  questioned. 

“ I am  a farmer,  sir,”  I said. 


4 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


He  looked  at  me  very  earnestly,  and  then  said:  “Young 
man,  if  I came  to  your  farm  and  asked  you  to  hitch  up  your 
team,  and  take  me  to  the  neighboring  town,  would  you  do  it?” 

“ If  I was  hitched  up,”  I said,  “ and  you  were  going  my 
way.  I’d  let  you  ride.” 

That  answer  caught  him.  He  picked  up  the  little  bell  on 
the  table  and  rang  it.  A young  man  came  in,  and  the  super- 
intendent ordered  him  to  take  me  out  to  the  assistant  and  write 
me  out  a pass  to  take  me  to  Moberly,  my  home. 

When  I arrived  home  the  colored  slave-girl — for  my  father 
was  a slave  owner  in  those  days — opened  the  door  and  asked 
“ Where  have  3^011  been?”  Then  I went  into  m\'  mother's  room, 
and  as  I stepped  behind  the  door  I saw  m3-  little  sister  h'ing 
on  her  death  bed.  She  beckoned  with  her  little  hand  for  me 
to  come  to  her.  She  said,  “ Brother,  promise  me  that  }-ou  will 
never  gamble  anv  more.”  I did  promise  her,  and  felt  at  that 
time,  and  later,  at  her  grave,  that  I would  keep  that  promise. 
But  the  fascination  for  gambling  was  so  strong,  and  ni}'  deter- 
mination to  take  advantage  of  my  opportunit}-,  was  so  powerful, 
that  I soon  drifted  into  the  gambler's  life. 

I left  home  and  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  I followed  the 
gambling  profession  for  fifteen  years,  and  grew  familiar  with 
almost  ever}^  secret  known  to  the  profession.  I became  such  an 
inveterate  gambler  that  I would  gamble  on  anything,  including 
wearing  apparel,  jewelr}-,  and  even  saloons.  Nothing  was  too 
big  or  too  small. 

While  living  at  one  time  in  St.  Louis,  I became  involved  in 
two  or  three  transactions  which  brought  me  into  some  un- 
pleasant notoriet}'.  One  was  in  connection  with  the  sale  of  a 
saloon,  known  as  the  “ White  Elephant,”  on  Sixth  street,  near 
Chestnut.  I had  an  interest  in  this  place,  jointh-.  Avith  a man 
named  Henr}-  V\  Huthsing.  Huthsing  sold  out  the  business 
to  one  Fred  Beckerer,  of  East  St.  Louis,  for  $1,900.  PaA-ment 
Avas  made  in  nineteen  $100  four  per  cent.  L*.  S.  bonds,  and 
my  partner,  finding  that  the  premiums  and  accrued  interest 
amounted  to  $375  gaA'e  Beckerer  his  check  for  that  sum.  greath- 
to  the  latter's  surprise.  Becoming  dissatisfied  Avith  his  bargain, 
the  purchaser  set  up  the  claim  that  the  bottles  and  barrels  in 
the  place  Avere  chiefly  filled  with  Avater,  a statement  Avhich  AA-as 
utterl}-  untrue.  He  brought  suit  against  us  and  caused  our 
arrest.  Our  experience  before  trial  was  not  of  a character  seri- 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


o 


ously  to  impress  us  with  respect  either  for  the  administration 
of  justice  or  for  the  integrity  of  some  of  the  legal  luminaries  of 
the  St.  Louis  bar.  We  gave  bonds  in  $1,000  each,  signed  by 
Henry  W.  Godfrey,  an  old-time  gambler  and  well  known  in 
the  courts  of  that  city.  We  retained  as  counsel  ex-judge  William 
Jones  and  C.  R.  Taylor,  paying  them  retainers  of  $50  and  $100 
respectivelv.  Vdien  the  case  was  first  called,  Jones  demanded 
$50  additional,  having  ascertained  that  Taylor  had  received  $100. 
The  demand  was  accompanied  with  a threat  of  withdrawing 


Leaving  Home. 


from  the  defense  and  allying  himself  with  the  prosecution,  and 
Ave  complied  with  his  request.  The  case  was  continued,  and  soon 
afterward  we  gaA'e  Godfrey  $300  upon  his  representation  that 
the  prosecuting  attorney,  R.  S.  IMcDonald,  had  agreed  to  dismiss 
the  suit.  What  became  of  the  money  I cannot  tell,  but  Godfrey 
repeatedly  told  us  that  he  had  giA^en  McDonald  $250,  and  Ave 
supposed  that  the  matter  was  settled.  SeA^eral  months  later  we 
AAere  surprised  to  learn  that  the  case  Avas  about  to  be  called 
again.  Huthsing  was  obliged  to  give  Jones  his  note  for  $100  to 
appear  and  defend.  The  day  before  that  set  for  the  trial  Jones 
wrote  to  i\Irs.  Huthsing  that  the  note  must  be  paid  at  once  or 


6 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


he  would  refuse  to  appear.  The  money  was  not  paid  and  we 
were  accordingly  deprived  of  the  valuable  services  of  the 
“Hon.”  (?)  Judge  Jones.  I gave  another  attorney,  Col.  Nat 
Claibourn,  $10  to  move  for  a continuance,  which  was  granted, 
and  subsequently  retained  ex-Governor  Charles  P.-  Johnson,  as 
our  attorney.  The  case  was  called  on  January  16th,  1887,  and 
at  the  request  of  my  counsel,  I was  granted  a separate  trial. 
At  the  suggestion  of  Gov.  Johnson,  the  evidence  was  submitted 
without  argument  to  the  jury,  who  re-entered  the  court  room 
in  exactly  nineteen  minutes  with  a verdict  of  acquittal.  The 
case  against  Huthsing  was  dismissed.  Thus  the  “ White  Ele- 
phant ” Avas  disposed  of  and  the  cheerful  prophecy  of  the  St. 
Louis  Globe-Democrat  came  to  naught;  that  paper  had  said 
before  the  trial,  “ the  way  things  look,  it  appears  that  softly 
the  cuckoo  is  calling  for  Quinn  to  come  up  the  road.” 

I dealt  faro-bank  for  a number  of  years  at  614  Pine  street. 
St.  Louis,  where  I wms  one  of  the  partners  in  a gambling  house. 
A railway  conductor  came  there  and  won  fifty  dollars  every 
time  he  played  for  seven  or  eight  times.  One  day  I said  to  my 
partner,  “ I am  going  to  clip  the  conductor's  rvings  to-night.” 
I told  my  regular  players  that  there  would  be  no  game  that 
evening,  as  I was  tired  and  going  to  a circus.  That  night  I 
fixed  my  crooked  box,  and  had  my  confederates  around  the 
table  to  make  it  appear  that  the  game  was  square.  We  waited 
some  time,  but  the  conductor  did  not  come.  Then  I rose  from 
my  seat  to  go  home,  saying,  “ Boys,  I guess  our  conductor  is 
not  coming.”  Just  at  that  moment  we  heard  his  footsteps  com- 
ing up  the  stairs.  Each  man  hustled  to  his  place  as  the  con- 
ductor came  into  the  room,  so  the  game  looked  natural  and 
square  as  rvhen  he  had  won  the  money.  I beat  him  out  of 
$3,100  before  he  left  the  room.  His  brother-in-law,  another  con- 
ductor, came  to  St.  Louis  after  him.  AA'e  discovered  he  had  a 
good  fat  roll  of  money  with  him,  and  w'e  gave  him  the  same 
game  we  had  given  his  brother-in-law  for  $3,000. 

Besides  faro,  we  also  had  roulette  in  our  house.  A man  by 
the  name  of  Miller,  a collector  for  a wholesale  house,  came  in 
one  night  and  lost  $3,000,  money  belonging  to  his  employer. 
The  merchant  had  Miller  arrested  by  Alatt.  W.  Pinkerton,  one 
of  our  great  detectives  in  Chicago,  and  iMr.  Pinkerton,  being  a 
great  friend  of  mine,  sent  for  me  to  go  to  his  office.  I went. 
Then  he  sent  for  the  merchant,  and  we  prevailed  upon  him  to 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVIGES. 


7 


allow  us  to  demonstrate  to  him  the  impossibility  of  a man  beat- 
ing the  wheel  Miller  had  played  against.  The  merchant,  who 
did  not  know  I was  one  of  the  men  who  had  taken  the  money 
from  Miller,  refused  for  a time  to  accept  any  proposition  what- 
ever, but  finally  consented  to  see  the  wheel  manipulated.  He 
said,  “ Make  me  win  ten  times  on  the  red.”  I did  so.  ” Now,” 
he  said,  “ make  me  win  ten  times  on  the  black.”  I did.  Then 
he  asked  for  Miller,  who  was  brought  in.  He  took  Miller’s  hand 
and  said,  “ I have  accumulated  a million  dollars  in  my  life,  and 
I freely  acknowledge  I would  have  lost  my'  money  against  this 
wheel.  Therefore,  I forgive  you,  and  I want  you  to  come  back 
to-morrow  morning  and  resume  your  old  position  in  my  office. 
I do  this  because  I have  a family  myself,  and  love  them,  and 
know  that  you  love  yours.” 

If  I had  not  proved  to  him  that  Miller  could  not  have  won, 
he  would  have  prosecuted  him  and  have  had  him  sent  to  the 
penitentiary. 

One  incident,  in  connection  with  a poker  game,  may  be  of 
interest  to  the  reader. 

There  was  a brakeman  on  a railway  who  received  only 
fifty-five  dollars  a month.  One  evening  he  came  to  my  place 
and  I won  his  fifty-five  dollars.  As  I went  downstairs  he  fol- 
lowed me  and  said,  “ I am  in  a bad  way.  I have  lost  all  my 
money,  and  I have  nothing  in  my  house  for  my  wife  and  two 
children  to  eat.  W on’t  you  lend  me  fifteen  dollars  till  my  next 
pay  day?”  I told  him  I would  not  lend,  but  would  give  the 
money  to  him  on  one  condition — if  he  would  promise  me  never 
to  play  cards  again.  He  said  he  did  not  like  to  promise  that, 
as  he  had  lost  so  much  and  wanted  to  try  and  win  it  back.  I 
told  him  I would  talk  plainly  to  him,  and  I said,  “You  are  a 
working  man,  and  any  man  who  works  for  his  money  cannot 
afford  to  gamble,  for  while  you  are  at  your  work  earning  your 
money,  the  gambler  is  practising  methods  of  deception  and 
fraud  how  to  steal  your  money  from  you.  Now,”  I continued, 
“you  are  as  fine  a sucker  as  I ever  saw  in  my  life.  I’d  rather 
have  you  gamble  with  me  than  find  the  money  in  the  road, 
for  if  I found  it  there,  somebody  would  be  sure  to  claim  it.” 
Eventually  he  said  he  would  promise  not  to  gamble  any  more, 
and  I gave  him  the  money,  which  he  wanted  to  pay  back  out 
of  his  next  month’s  salary.  I told  him  I did  not  want  it,  but 
1 did  want  him  to  quit  gambling  and  take  care  of  his  family. 


8 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


Before  I left  him  I said,  “ Young  man,  your  first  duty  is  to  your 
wife  and  children.  If  you  have  any  notion  of  gambling  again, 
whatever  money  you  have  to  spare  from  your  wages,  place  it 
in  an  envelope  and  stick  it,  with  your  compliments,  under  the 
door  of  the  house  where  you  do  your  gambling.  By  doing  this 
you  will  save  your  time.'’  Then  I told  him  never  to  come  back 
to  my  house,  as  I was  looking  for  bigger  game  in  the  shape  of 
rich  men,  not  for  men  who  had  to  work  for  their  money. 

Ten  years  later  I had  been  converted,  and  was  lecturing  in 
Columbus,  Indiana.  After  my  discourse,  a man  came  up  to  me 
with  his  wife  and  four  children,  one  of  them  a baby  in  arms. 
He  shook  hands  with  me,  and  I was  delighted  when  he  told  me 
he  was  the  man  from  whom  I had  robbed  the  fifty-five  dollars 
and  had  given  back  the  fifteen. 

He  told  me  he  wanted  me  to  go  and  dine  with  him,  and  I 
went  to  his  little  cottage.  He  said,  “Brother  Quinn” — for  he 
called  me  brother — “ you  cured  me  of  gambling  by  the  way  you 
talked  to  me  the  day  you  gave  me  the  fifteen  dollars.  From  that 
time  to  now  I have  never  gambled  for  as  much  as  one  single 
penny.”  Then  he  told  me  that,  as  the  result  of  his  steady  life, 
the  cottage  in  which  he  lived  belonged  to  him,  and  was  already 
paid  for  in  full,  kly  heart  was  filled  with  joy,  when  he  and  his 
wife,  with  tears  in  their  eyes,  told  me  of  their  gratitude  for  what 
I had  done  for  him. 

Although  I followed  the  gambling  profession  for  so  many 
years,  my  conscience  was  never  at  rest  very  long  together.  Sev- 
eral times  I tried  to  break  away  from  it  but  with  no  avail,  and 
even  went  into  other  lines  of  business  to  try  and  rid  myself  ot 
the  habit  which  had  eaten  into  my  very  nature  until  it  seemed 
to  be  a necessary  part  of  my  life. 

During  my  career  as  a professional  gambler,  I operated  in 
many  cities  in  the  AVest,  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City  and  Chicago  be- 
ing the  principal  ones,  also  in  Philadelphia. 

At  one  time  in  Chicago  I went  into  the  commission  business 
and  became  a member  of  the  firm  of  Stockton.  Young  & Co., 
who  referred  by  permission  to  AVm.  Young  & Co.,  then  the  lead- 
ing commission  house  of  that  city.  I found  operating  “ on 
change  ” diflrerent  from  running  a “ squeeze  spindle,”  Avhich  I 
had  practised  at  fairs  and  carnivals,  etc.,  but  the  “ squeezing  ” 
was  effectually  accomplished  in  both  cases.  In  the  spring  of 
1882  the  composition  and  title  of  the  firm  was  changed ; Ben 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


9 


Demint  was  admitted  to  membership,  and  the  firm  became 
Stockton,  Quinn  & Co. 

While  a member  of  the  firm,  I was  causelessly  arrested  for 
defrauding  a IMrs.  IMorgan  out  of  $700.  By  way  of  defense  I 
produced  her  receipt,  and  was  thereupon  honorably  discharged. 

In  addition  to  all  the  other  forms  of  gambling,  I also  went 
in  for  the  gold  brick  swindle.  A business  man  of  a certain  town 
gave  us  information  that  one  of  the  bankers  was  a close-fisted. 


He  had  them  tested  with  acid.” 


miserly  fellow,  who,  he  believed,  would  buy  some  gold  bricks. 
For  this  information  the  business  man  was  to,  and  did,  receive 
ten  per  cent,  of  what  we  made.  A\’e  played  for  the  banker, 
took  him  into  the  woods,  where  we  told  him  an  Indian  named 
Charlie,  was  in  possession  of  the  alleged  gold  bricks.  The 
banker  paid  over,  for  four  bricks,  one  hundred  notes  of  a hundred 
dollars  each,  making  ten  thousand  dollars  in  all.  He  was  such 
an  easy  mark  tve  told  him  that  Charlie,  the  Indian,  had  four 
more  bricks  he  could  have  at  the  same  price.  He  at  once  took 


10 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


out  his  book  and  wrote  his  check  for  the  other  four,  to  be  cashed 
on  delivery.  Then  I went  back  to  town  and  met  the  business 
man,  who  received  his  ten  per  cent,  of  the  first  $10,000,  and  I 
told  him  I was  going  to  present  the  check  for  that  amount  at 
the  bank.  He  was  scared  almost  to  death,  and  begged  me  not 
to  go  to  the  bank,  as  he  felt  sure  the  banker  would  suspect  the 
trick  we  had  played  on  him,  would  have  us  arrested,  and  he  would 
be  brought  into  the  matter  for  the  $1,000  he  had  received.  The 
spurious  brass  bricks  which  he  bought  for  gold  the  banker  had 
placed  in  the  vaults  of  the  bank.  They  remained  there  for  six 
weeks,  after  which  he  had  them  tested  with  acid.  On  seeing  the 
result  of  this  performance,  he  realized  the  fraud  that  had  been 
practised  upon  him,  but  came  to  the  conclusion,  in  this  case, 
that  “ silence  was  golden.” 

For  twenty-five  years  I played  the  crooked  game,  looking 
for  the  best  of  it,  like  all  other  gamblers.  From  my  experience, 
I say  unreservedly  to  everyone,  when  you  find  that  a man  is  a 
professional  gambler  give  him  a wide  berth,  for  it  is  impossible 
for  him  to  make  it  a success  and  for  him  to  be  honest  at  the 
same  time. 

My  conversion  came  about  in  this  way.  I was  on  my  way 
from  St.  Louis  to  Chicago  with  two  friends,  and  we  stopped  at 
Terra  Llaute,  Indiana,  to  get  an  affidavit,  so  that  an  old  soldier 
could  get  his  pension  from  the  government.  There  we  found 
that  a man  had  been  robbed  of  $3,000  at  bunko,  another  confi- 
dence game  which  was  played  very  largely  at  that  time  with 
much  success.  We,  being  suspicious  characters  and  strangers, 
were  arrested.  The  man  who  had  been  robbed  had  offered  $500 
for  the  arrest  of  the  man  who  had  taken  his  money.  Two  de- 
tectives went  to  him  and  told  him  they  had  three  suspicious 
characters  locked  up,  and  if  he  would  identify  them  he  would 
get  his  $3,000.  On  this  he  said  we  looked  like  the  men  and  the 
detectives  got  the  reward.  We  were  tried,  convicted,  and  sen- 
tenced to  three  years’  hard  labor.  AVhen  the  jury  pronounced 
the  verdict  of  “ guilty,”  the  judge  asked  each  of  us  what  we  had 
to  say.  I said,  “ Judge,  as  you  pass  sentence  on  me  so  the 
Almighty  will  pass  sentence  on  you  in  the  near  future,  for  you 
know  we  are  not  guilty  of  this  crime.” 

In  less  than  three  months  that  judge  was  dead. 

When  the  sheriff  took  us  to  the  prison,  he  told  the  warden 
we  were  not  guilty  of  the  crime.  One  of  our  senators,  who  had 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVIGES. 


11 


acted  as  our  attorney,  came  to  the  prison  shortly  after  and  told 
us  he  could  get  us  out  in  ten  days  if  we  would  pay  him  $10,000. 
I asked  the  warden  if  I could  speak  freely  to  the  senator,  and 
when  he  said  “ certainly ! ” I spoke  to  the  senator  and  said, 
“ Senator,  you  know  we  are  not  guilty  of  this  crime,  and  you  are 
working  in  league  with  the  prosecuting  attorney  to  rob  us  of 
our  money.  I would  see  you  as  far  in  hell  as  a pigeon  could  fly 
in  a million  years  before  I would  give  you  a dollar.”  That 
settled  our  fate. 

I had  been  in  prison  about  four  or  five  months  when  I re- 
ceived a letter  from  my  wife  telling  me  that  our  son,  our  only 


Dealing  Faro. 


child,  was  dead,  and  the  last  words  he  spoke  were,  “ I want  my 
papa  to  come  home ! ” A few  months  later  I received  a farewell 
letter  from  my  wife,  saying  she  wanted  to  have  nothing  more  to 
do  with  me.  I fell  on  my  knees  at  nine  o’clock  that  night,  and 
when  I came  to  myself  the  clocks  were  striking  midnight.  I 
rose  up  and  said  to  myself,  “ Is  this  all  that  is  left?  ” The  next 
day  when  I went  out  with  the  other  prisoners,  the  foreman  of 
the  prison  told  me  that  I need  not  work  that  day  with  them, 
but  that  I was  to  clean  out  some  benches.  In  doing  this  I found 
an  old  well-worn  Bible.  As  I looked  at  it,  I saw  an  inscription 
on  the  fly-leaf.  It  read  as  follows:  “ From  your  broken-hearted 
wife.” 

I took  the  Bible  away  with  me,  and  in  reading  it  I came  to 
the  passage  in  which  Paul  and  Silas  prayed  at  midnight,  and 
the  prisoners  heard  them,  and  the  doors  of  the  prisons  were 
opened  and  Paul  and  Silas  were  liberated.  I said  to  myself, 
“ Is  this  the  same  God  that  I am  reading  about  that  Paul  and 


12 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


Silas  prayed  to?”  If  so,  He  answered  their  prayer,  and,  learn- 
ing from  this  old  Book  that  He  has  no  respect  of  persons.  He 
will  answer  my  prayer.  I said,  “ Lord,  you  know  I never  com- 
mitted this  crime,  and  I want  the  guilty  people  caught.” 

In  three  days  from  that  time  my  prayer  was  answered.  The 
guilty  parties  were  caught  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  taken 
back  to  Brownstown,  Indiana,  where  the  crime  had  been  com- 
mitted, whereupon  Governor  Grey  pardoned  us  three  innocent 
men.  One  of  them,  feeling  he  was  a disgrace  to  the  daughter 
he  loved  so  much,  hanged  himself  in  his  barn.  The  other  was 
affected  with  nervous  prostration  and  never  recovered ; while 
I have  consecrated  my  time  and  talent  to  the  service  of  God 
and  to  the  saving  of  young  men  from  a gambler’s  life. 

In  my  long  hours  of  solitude  I found  leisure  for  reflection, 
and  looking  backward  I reverently  and  sincerely  return  thanks 
to  a merciful  Providence  that  thus  rescued  me  from  plunging 
yet  deeper  into  the  maelstrom  of  folly  and  vice.  The  prison  cell 
and  the  convict’s  dress  accomplished  what  all  other  warnings 
had  failed  to  effect — my  reformation.  I saw  that  it  was  to  the 
accursed  vice  of  gambling  that  I owed  the  loss  of  reputation, 
of  home,  wife,  child  and  liberty.  Bitterly  did  I lament  my  per- 
sistence in  the  sinful  practice,  and  from  the  bottom  of  my  soul 
I absolutely  abjured  it  forever. 

My  pardon  was  signed  on  November  9th,  1888,  and  two 
days  later  I walked  from  the  prison  a free  man.  IMr.  George 
Eastman,  my  foreman,  Avas  kind  to  me.  He  placed  his  hand 
upon  my  head  while  praying,  and  said ; “ Poor  boy,  come  and 
go  home  with  me.”  Plow  bitterly  I wept  Avhen  his  hand  was 
laid  upon  me.  The  touch  meant  a great  deal  to  one  so  lonely. 
It  has  been  said  that  it  is  weakness  to  cry.  There  is  a sacred- 
ness in  tears.  “ Jesus  wept.”  Did  He  not  weep  at  the  grave  of 
Lazarus,  and  again,  over  the  city  of  Jerusalem?  He  could  sor- 
row with  others ; but  He  could  also  weep  oA’er  His  children  on 
account  of  their  sin,  when  they  rvould  not  weep  for  themselves. 
Some  people’s  sin  brings  them  no  sense  of  shame  until  they  are 
found  out.  Tears  speak  more  eloquently  than  ten  thousand 
tongues ; they  are  the  messengers  of  overwhelming  grief,  of 
deep  contrition,  of  unspeakable  Ioa'c. 

AVhen  I stood  upon  my  feet  and  this  man  took  me  by  the 
liand  it  seemed  iua"  heart  Avould  burst.  O A-es,  there  is  an  aAA'ful 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


13 


pleasure  in  tears,  and  if  I thought  there  were  none  on  earth  to 
shed  a tear  for  me  I should  be  loth  to  live,  and  if  I thought  no 
one  would  weep  over  my  grave  I could  never  die  in  peace. 

After  enjoying  the  kind  hospitality  of  my  new  friend  for 
about  a week,  a feeling  of  loneliness  came  over  me  and  I felt  I 
must  go  to  St.  Louis  without  further  delay,  to  gaze  once  more 
at  the  home  where  I had  last  lived  with  my  wife  and  baby,  now 
departed  from  me.  The  lines  which  I penned  in  my  prison 
cell,  upon  hearing  the  death  of  my  child  and  the  desertion  of 
my  wife,  reverted  back  to  my  memory  with  a greater  force  than 
ever.  The  lines  are  as  follows ; 

Why  do  I sit  alone  in  this  cell 

And  weep  o’er  this  three  years’  time. 

When  God  Himself  knows  full  well 
I am  innocent  of  this  crime? 

Wife,  come  and  see  me  just  once  more, 

For  my  brain  is  almost  wild; 

And  tell  me  through  the  old  iron  door 
The  story  of  our  dead  child. 

I have  lost  enough;  My  brain’s  most  wild. 

Oh  God!  why  do  you  spare  my  life? 

I have  lost  my  liberty,  my  home,  my  child. 

But,  last  of  all,  have  lost  my  wife. 

Oh,  what  would  I give,  what  would  I do. 

If  I could  but  go  home  once  m^jre 

And  see  our  baby’s  little  muddy  shoe 
Lying  upon  our  bedroom  floor. 

But  it  is  not  so  strange  to  me  now 
Since  our  boy  lies  beneath  the  sod, 

For  its  instrumental  friends,  I vow. 

In  leading  his  papa  home  to  God. 

Now  that  my  home  was  gone,  and  I was  left  alone  in  the 
world,  I went  to  Chicago  with  two  objects  uppermost  in  my 
mind.  One  was  to  prepare  and  deliver  a lecture,  in  which  I 
might  demonstrate  my  innocence  of  the  crime  for  which  I had 
been  convicted ; the  other  was  to  publish  a work  on  gambling, 
through  which  I might,  by  exposing  the  cheats  and  frauds  of  the 
professional  gamester,  deter  others  from  entering  upon  the  path 
“whose  gates  take  hold  on  hell.”  My  first  lecture  was  delivered 
in  the  auditorium  of  the  First  M.  E.  Church,  at  Chicago,  on  the 
evening  of  Monday,  IMay  20th,  1880,  and  in  the  following  year 
my  book,  entitled  “ Fools  of  Fortune,”  containing  640  pages,  was 
published,  and  had  a large  sale. 


14 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


From  the  time  of  my  first  lecture  in  Chicago,  I received 
numbers  of  calls  from  all  over  the  country,  to  lecture,  and  to 
fight  against  the  gambling  dens  and  other  social  evils.  A Wall 
street  banker  engaged  me  to  go  to  Saratoga  for  one  lecture.  It 
resulted  in  my  remaining  there  about  three  weeks  and  closing 
the  gambling  houses,  with  the  assistance  of  Matt.  W.  Pinkerton. 
For  the  first  time  in  thirty-three  years  their  doors  were  locked. 
Many  threats  were  made  to  run  us  out  of  town,  and  our 
posters  were  torn  down.  Mitchell,  the  mayor,  w'as  running  John 
Morisay’s  old  club  house,  the  largest  gambling  house  in  the 
place,  if  not  in  the  county. 

At  JMinneapolis,  IMinn.,  I commenced  a crusade  against 
gambling  and  other  forms  of  vice.  I fired  the  first  gun  in  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  in  my  discourse  made  the  state- 
ment that  someone  in  the  city  was  receiving  a corrupt  consid- 
eration for  failing  to  enforce  the  law.  The  next  morning  the 
mayor  sent  for  me  to  come  to  his  office.  He  asked  me  to  re- 
tract what  I had  said  the  night  before  in  my  lecture.  I said 
“ Sir,  I will  never  do  it.”  I fell  down  on  my  knees  in  his  office 
and  commenced  to  pray  for  him.  As  the  words  of  pra3'er  rose 
from  my  lips  to  heaven  he  trembled  and  became  very  uncomfort- 
able. I knew  the  situation  that  existed  in  the  city,  and  had 
been  informed  that  everything  the  devil  had  done  in  other  cities 
to  help  his  cause  was  done  in  Minneapolis.  I thereupon  chal- 
lenged the  ma\'or  to  a public  debate  for  the  next  evening  to 
take  place  at  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

When  the  time  for  opening  the  meeting  had  arrived,  the 
hall  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacit}^  I spoke  from  the  passage 
of  Scripture  found  in  Ecc.  viii.,  11.  During  the  course  of  my 
speech,  I said,  “ I am  glad  to-night  to  have  the  opportunity  to 
draw  back  the  curtain  which  obscures  the  life  of  the  gambler, 
and  of  those  who  are  his  friends,  and  exhibit  to  you  as  never 
before  the  shame,  misery  and  degradation  which  was  my  por- 
tion, as  is  the  portion  of  every  other  professional  gambler, 
but  from  which  I have  happily  escaped  through  Divine  mere}' 
and  Providence.  For  the  twenty-five  years  that  I spent  in  the 
devil’s  service  as  a professional  gambler,  I wish  to  impress 
upon  the  minds  of  this  audience  that  I never  opened  a gambling 
house  anywhere  without  having  to  pa}'  a stipulated  sum  of 
money  per  month  for  police  protection.  I have  here  in  my 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


15 


hand  an  affidavit  saying  that  there  are  twenty-seven  houses  of 
prostitution  running  in  your  city,  the  madam  of  each  house  pay- 
ing $50  per  month,  and  the  inmate  of  each  house  paying  $10  per 
month  ; also  that  seventeen  gambling  houses  are  in  operation, 
each  paying  $50  per  week  to  the  executive  of  your  city.  Now 
there  is  one  of  two  alternatives,  or  both.  Either  some  one  has 
promised  protection  to  the  gamblers  or  prostitutes,  provided 
they  elect  a certain  man  mayor,  or  some  one  who  now  stands 
close  to  the  administration  is  receiving  a corrupt  consideration 
for  failing  to  enforce  the  law.  A city  with  a leader  whose  fertile 
brain  teems  with  imagery  and  whose  vivid  imagination  can 
clothe  the  most  matter-of-fact  subject  with  an  interest  which 
renders  it  captivating,  to  say  there  is  no  gambling  and  no  houses 


Three-Shell  Game. 


of  prostitution  running  in  your  city, — what  a farce ! What  a 
commentary  upon  your  Christianity  in  a civilized  community 
where  a syndicate  of  gambling  savages,  who  are  strangers  to 
humanity,  strangers  to  honesty,  and  strangers  to  God,  should 
attract  such  little  attention  from  the  ghastly  mockery,  called 
law.” 

Turning  round  to  the  mayor,  who  was  on  the  platform,  and 
pointing  my  finger  at  him,  I said,  “ Sir,  you  are  the  man  respon- 
sible for  the  conditions  existing  here.  You  have  it  within  your 
power  to  stop  it,  or  to  endorse  it.”  Then  turning  to  the  audi- 
ence, I made  an  appeal  to  the  mothers  to  take  a firm  grip  of  the 
situation  and  stand  on  the  side  of  truth  and  honor.  I brought 
the  truth  home  to  them  in  such  a manner  that  they  would  not 


16 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


easily  forget  it.  I said,  “ Mothers,  under  the  present  administra- 
tion, your  daughters  can  become  madams  of  houses  of  prostitu- 
tion by  paying  $50  per  month,  or  they  can  become  inmates  of 
a bawdy  house  by  paying  $10  per  month,  or  your  husbands  and 
sons  can  run  a gambling  joint  by  paying  $50  per  week,  in  re- 
turn for  which  they  will  receive  police  protection.”  iMany  in 
the  audience  wept  as  well  as  myself,  and  those  who  were  present 
to  hiss  me,  after  knowing  the  truth  of  conditions,  applauded  me, 
while  the  mayor  himself  was  so  broken  up  that  while  he  was 
still  upon  the  platform  he  wept  in  a most  pitiable  manner. 

I once  heard  of  a poor  boy  who  went  to  the  mill.  The 
miller  said  “John,  what  do  you  know?”  “Well,”  answered 
John,  “ I know  the  miller  has  fat  hogs.”  “ What  is  it  you  don't 
know,”  asked  the  miller.  “ I don’t  know  whose  corn  fats  them,’’ 
was  the  answer.  And  I say  to  the  reader,  do  you  believe  that 
the  officials  of  any  city  will  allow  the  gamblers  and  prostitutes 
to  pay  tribute  without  taking  out  toll? 

I have  lectured  to  many  Y.  ?\I.  C.  Associations,  churches, 
etc.,  and  while  at  Erie,  Pa.,  in  the  Catholic  auditorium.  In  New 
York  city  I rented  several  business  places  where  I gave  demon- 
strations with  crooked  gambling  machinery,  some  of  which  had 
been  captured  in  raids.  In  Philadelphia,  Cleveland,  Chicago, 
and  many  other  cities,  I have  repeatedly  given  my  demonstra- 
tions, which  have  been  productive  of  much  good  in  saving  young 
men  from  the  evils  of  gaming,  and  many  thousands  have  signed 
the  anti-gambling  pledge. 

In  1907  I went  to  England  to  carry  on  a crusade  there,  and 
was  accompanied  by  IMessrs.  E.  N.  Hills  and  George  D.  Lane.  I 
stayed  there  three  years  lacking  ten  days. 

My  first  lecture  was  given  at  the  great  hall  in  the  Cannon 
street  hotel,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Lord  iMayor  of  London. 
The  Plon.  J.  G.  Jenkins,  representing  the  Australian  government, 
presided.  The  meeting  rvas  composed  of  some  of  the  best  busi- 
ness men  of  the  city  of  London,  noted  clergymen  of  various  de- 
nominations, and  others  who  were  more  or  less  interested  in 
moi'al  and  social  reform. 

Soon  after  this  I labored  under  the  auspices  of  the  Free 
Church  Council  of  England,  representing  17,000  churches  of  vari- 
ous denominations.  Also  for  the  National  Open-Air  IMeeting 
Association,  speaking  for  them  on  the  various  race-courses.  We 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


17 


used  to  address  large  crowds  of  people  during  the  day,  and  then 
hold  meetings  in  the  churches  at  night.  I have  seen  many  con- 
verted at  these  meetings. 

It  was  also  my  pleasure  to  address  a convention  of  teachers 
at  Bournemouth,  over  which  the  late  Duke  of  Devonshire  pre- 
sided. The  teachers  were  much  impressed  with  the  practical 
demonstrations  that  I gave,  and  suggested  that  it  would  be  a 
good  thing  for  me  to  visit  all  the  colleges  and  schools  through- 
out the  country,  thus  giving  the  boys  and  young  men  an  oppor- 
tunity of  being  warned  of  the  evils  of  gambling,  by  practical 
demonstrations.  I will  venture  to  say  that  my  demonstration 
will  do  more  good  to  save  young  men  from  gambling  than  a 
thousand  sermons  on  the  subject. 

Another  interesting  event  while  in  London  was  a visit  to 
the  Savage  Club,  of  which  the  late  King  Edward  was  a mem- 
ber. My  demonstration  of  cards  and  dice  was  an  eye-opener  to 
the  gentlemen  present. 

After  lecturing  and  demonstrating  in  many  of  the  churches 
and  halls  throughout  England,  it  was  felt  advisable  by  some  of 
the  leading  clergymen  that  I secure  engagements  at  the  theatres 
in  order  to  reach  a class  of  people  that  could  not  be  reached  by 
any  other  means.  Accordingly  I secured  a ten  weeks’  engage- 
ment to  give  my  demonstration  twice  a day,  at  Maskelyne  and 
Levant’s,  Oxford  Circus,  London,  the  most  high-toned  place  of 
entertainment  in  the  world.  No  parent  need  be  ashamed  to  be 
seen  taking  their  children  there.  Of  course  I know  there  are 
critics  who  would  condemn  me  for  working  on  the  stage,  but  I 
believe  it  is  my  duty  to  be  in  the  place  where  I can  do  the  most 
good.  The  leading  members  of  the  nobility  came  there  to  see 
my  demonstrations,  some  of  whom  came  upon  the  stage  to  act 
as  a committee  to  assure  the  audience  of  the  correctness  of  the 
cards  called  and  the  numbers  of  the  dice  thrown,  etc.  The  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury  came  three  times  to  see  my  work.  The 
“ Christian  Age,”  one  of  England’s  leading  religious  periodi- 
cals commented  on  my  work  as  follows ; “ The  other  day  a 
minister  of  the  gospel  who  went  to  Messrs.  Maskelyne  and 
Levant’s  ‘ Hall  of  iMystery  ’ to  see  the  remarkable  performance 
of  Mr.  John  P.  Quinn,  told  Mr.  Quinn  that  he  really  hadn’t 
known  sufficient  about  gambling  to  be  able  to  preach  intelli- 
gently upon  the  subject;  but  now  he  would  be  able  to  preach  a 


18 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


sermon  in  which  he  could  show  his  people  how  the  professional 
gambler  invariably  gets  the  better  of  his  victim.  I imagine 
many  other  ministers  will  be  using  Mr.  Quinn  as  an  illustration 
in  their  addresses,  especially  those  delivered  to  young  men.  I 
looked  in  at  St.  George’s  Hall  the  other  night  and  saw  how 
neatly  this  white-haired,  spectacled  gentleman  with  the  benevo- 
lent aspect  tricked  those  who  thought  they  were  winners  of 
five-pound  notes.  No  one  on  earth  seems  to  have  the  faintest 
idea  how  Mr.  Quinn  arranges  matters  so  that,  no  matter  what 
game  of  chance  is  played,  he  wins,  but  he  does  it,  and  I cannot 
imagine  a bigger  fool  than  the  man  who  sees  such  a demonstra- 
tion and  yet  goes  on  allowing  himself  to  be  duped  in  the  card- 
room,  or  on  the  race-course.  . . . It  is  quite  an  unusual 

thing  for  any  place  of  amusement  to  be  recommended  in  these 
columns,  but  I think  klr.  Quinn  is  in  the  right  place  on  the  stage 
at  St.  George’s  Hall.  Often  the  young  men  whom  he  addresses 
at  our  churches  have  few  temptations  in  this  particular  direc- 
tion. Before  the  fall  of  the  curtain  the  ex-gambler,  now  devoting 
the  remainder  of  his  life  to  warning  his  fellow-men  against  that 
which  has  brought  ruin  to  thousands,  says  a few  sharp  words 
to  the  audience,  reminding  them  that  in  playing  with  the  sharper 
it  is  absolutely  impossible  to  beat  him,  though  of  course  he  loses 
occasionally  in  order  not  to  excite  suspicion.  The  anti-gambling 
movement  has  a fine  missionary  in  Mr.  Quinn,  and  strong  sup- 
porters of  the  movement  like  Canon  Horsley  have,  I hear,  gone 
on  to  the  stage  and  taken  a keen  interest  in  his  performances. 
It  is  quite  a novelty.  A^d^ile  I watched  jMr.  Quinn  I thought  of 
the  miserable  scenes  I have  seen  on  the  race-course,  of  tricksters 
I have  seen  put  up  for  trial  in  the  police  court,  of  half-witted 
creatures  I have  seen  trying  to  Avin  in  a Belgian  gambling  resort, 
and  of  the  untold  number  of  A'oung  men  who  are  fooled  androbbed 
on  the  raihvays  and  on  steamships.  And  I Avished  there  Avas  a 
Quinn  on  the  stage  of  eA'ery  theatre  and  music  hall  in  London.” 

Gambling  houses  do  not  flourish  in  England  as  they  do  in 
the  LTnited  States  of  America.  Card  playing  is  the  faA’orite 
pastime  of  “ society,”  and  high  stakes  are  indulged  in  at  many 
of  the  clubs.  The  Avorking  man  confines  his  little  bets  chiefly  to 
his  faA^orite  horse.  IMany  of  the  daily  papers  publish  betting 
tips,  but  the  “ London  Daily  Nervs  ” has  proA'ed  beyond  a doubt 
that  it  is  possible  for  a daily  paper  to  exist  Avithout  inserting  the 
betting  tips  and  news  of  the  races. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


1!) 


In  September,  1910,  I returned  to  my  own  country  once 
more  by  way  of  Montreal,  accompanied  by  Mr.  W.  C.  Ashby,  a 
Methodist  evangelist,  and  we  are  still  working  together. 

W e gave  our  demonstrations  in  several  theatres  in  Montreal, 
Quebec,  Buffalo,  Cleveland,  Detroit,  Pittsburgh,  etc.  While  at 
Pittsburgh  in  1911,  Ave  were  asked  if  we  had  eA^er  been  to  Canton, 
Ohio,  as  it  was  claimed  that  a hotbed  of  gamblers  existed  there. 
I had  no  further  intention  of  making  an  open  fight  on  the  gam- 
blers, but  to  merely  educate  the  public  by  means  of  practical 
demonstrations,  “ not  to  bet  on  the  other  man’s  game.” 

We  Avent  to  Canton  in  July,  1911,  and  opened  up  our  cam- 
paign there  by  giving  demonstrations  at  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  and  the 
following  week,  as  the  result  of  our  work,  a number  of  ministers 
caused  two  raids  to  be  made  at  Myers  Lake.  The  county  sheriff, 
Adam  Oberlin,  a fine  Christian  gentleman,  was  called  in  to  make 
the  raids.  A large  number  of  slot  machines  were  put  out  of 
business,  besides  spindles  and  a striker. 

A few  days  later  we  put  up  a tent  and  for  fiA'e  weeks  held 
services  and  demonstrations.  These  Avere  well  attended,  and 
sometimes  we  were  compelled  to  give  three  or  four  demonstra- 
tions in  an  evening  to  accommodate  the  people. 

On  September  21st  of  that  year,  four  citizens  met  and  de- 
cided to  fight  gambling  and  other  forms  of  Auce  existing  in 
Canton.  We  were  engaged  to  assist  them  in  the  AA^ork.  The 
city  officials  said  that  they  did  not  knoAV  of  any  gambling  go- 
ing on  in  Canton,  yet  Ave  obtained  the  evidence  of  fiA^e  gambling 
houses  in  existence  within  a block  of  the  city  hall.  It  really  is 
marA^ellous  hoAV  gambling  houses  Avill  flourish  so  near  to  the 
eyes  of  the  larv.  To  open  the  eyes  of  the  officers  of  the  Mav  to 
the  condirions  existing  so  close  to  them,  one  afternoon  Sheriff 
Oberlin  raided  tAvo  of  the  largest  gambling  houses  in  Court 
street,  which  has  been  notorious  for  its  gambling  for  the  past 
twenty  years.  Three  wagon  loads  of  gambling  paraphernalia 
were  taken,  and  after  the  cases  were  disposed  of,  a nice  little 
bonfire  was  made. 

Impeachment  papers  against  IMayor  Turnbull  were  pre- 
sented to  GoA’ernor  Harmon,  asking  him  to  remove  the  mayor 
from  office.  Among  the  charges  Avere : 

“ Said  mayor  has  been  guilty  of  misconduct  in  office  in  that 
he  has  appointed  to  and  retained  in  office  as  chief  of  police  of 
said  city  one  H.  Smith,  well  knoAving  said  Smith  to  be  grossly 


20 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


immoral  and  that  said  Smith  habitually  and  knowingly  per- 
mitted and  protected  the  violation  of  laws  of  the  state  and 
ordinances  of  said  city,  and  particularly  those  relating  to  gam- 
bling, houses  of  ill-fame,  cock-fighting,  and  the  regulation  of  the 
liquor  traffic,  and  Smith  himself  aiding  and  abetting  such  vio- 
lations by  his  personal  presence  and  patronage,  and  permitting 


extensive  gambling  resorts  to  operate  openh'  and  notoriously 
within  two  hundred  feet  of  his  office  and  elsewhere  in  said  city. 

“ Said  mayor  has  been  guilty  of  misconduct  in  office  in  that 
upon  the  occasion  of  a raid  by  the  sheriff  of  Stark  county  upon 
gambling  houses  within  the  block  adjacent  to  the  city  hall  and 
police  office,  in  October,  1911,  he  instructed  the  chief  of  police, 
if  called  upon  by  said  sheriff  for  assistance,  to  refuse  such  assis- 
tance, directing  said  chief  to  tell  the  sheriff'  to  go  to  hell. 

Said  mayor  has  been  guilty  of  gross  neglect  of  duty  in 
that  he  knowingly  permitted  gambling  rooms  to  be  operated  openly 
and  publicly  in  all  parts  of  said  city  and  has  made  no  attempt  to 
prevent  the  same,  although  frequently  by  citizens  apprized 
thereof  and  admonished  with  regard  thereto,  that  he  has  know- 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


21 


ingly  permitted  saloons  to  be  kept  open  and  intoxicating  liquors 
to  be  sold  upon  Sundays  and  election  days  throughout  said 
city  and  has  made  no  attempt  to  prevent  or  check  the  same,  al- 
though frequent  complaints  and  specific  violations  of  law  in  this 
regard  have  been  made  to  him  by  citizens  of  said  city.  That  he 
has  knowingly  permitted  houses  of  prostitution  and  assignation 
to  be  kept  and  conducted  in  open  and  notorious  violation  of  law 
and  has  permitted  lewd  women  to  frequent  the  streets  of  said 
city  and  openly  solicit  men  to  engage  in  illicit  intercourse  with 
them ; that  he  has  knowingly  permitted  well  known  and  notori- 
ous criminals  to  conduct  saloons  and  houses  of  ill-fame  and  to 
harbor  therein  habitual  gamblers,  prostitutes  and  criminals  of  all 
classes,  and  citizens  who  have  sought  to  lay  before  him  knowl- 
edge and  complaints  concerning  the  violation  of  laws  and  his 
non-enforcement  of  laws  in  said  city.” 

The  impeachment  papers  were  signed  by  Rev.  E.  B.  Town- 
send, pastor  of  the  Calvary  Presbyterian  Church,  and  Rev.  Le 
Roy  DeHays,  pastor  of  the  Eirst  Church  of  God.  Governor 
Harmon  never  took  any  further  steps  in  the  matter. 

I addressed  a mass  meeting  in  the  United  Brethren  Church 
on  the  crusade  one  Sunday  evening,  when  it  was  estimated  that 
over  3,500  persons  were  present,  and  it  was  found  necessary  to 
hold  an  over-flow  meeting  in  the  Baptist  Church,  close  by. 

The  following  Thursday  we  showed  pictures  on  the  curtain 
which  we  obtained  of  the  houses  of  prostitution,  gambling 
houses,  and  saloons  that  were  open  on  Sunday.  A meeting  for 
men  only  was  held  in  the  U.  B.  Church,  and  two  meetings  for 
women  only,  in  the  Baptist  Church,  the  same  evening.  The 
city  had  never  been  so  stirred  in  all  its  history  as  when  the  truth 
of  the  vice  conditions  were  put  plainly  before  the  people. 

Soon  after  this  we  were  called  to  Oil  City,  Pa.,  where  we 
labored  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  E.  B.  Welsh,  Rev.  W. 
Mitchell  and  IMr.  Black,  secretary  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 

W e stayed  at  Oil  City  about  four  months  for  the  purpose 
of  gathering  information  on  gambling  houses,  white  slavery 
and  liquor  violations.  The  committee  required  the  information 
for  the  purpose  of  knowing  just  what  was  going  on  in  the  town, 
and  not  necessarily  for  prosecution.  At  one  gambling  house  we 
discovered  that  whisky  was  frequently  sold  and  men  got  drunk 
there  on  Sundays.  There  were  plenty  of  house  players  to  be 


23 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


found  in  the  various  houses,  and  it  was  no  uncommon  thing 
for  men  to  lose  two  weeks’  wages  at  one  sitting. 

The  Oil' City  committee  sent  us  to  Franklin,  Pa.,  for  a week, 
during  rvhich  time  we  obtained  evidence  on  poolrooms  and 
saloons.  In  most  of  the  poolrooms  young  boys  could  be  found 
playing  pea  pool  for  money.  At  one  gambling  house,  over  the 
five  and  ten  cent  store,  a club  of  business  men  met  for  the  pur- 
pose of  gambling.  There  rvas  no  rake-off  at  this  game,  but  each 
player  had  to  purchase  five  dollars’  worth  of  checks  on  week 
days,  from  which  fifty  cents  were  deducted  for  his  seat ; on  Sun- 
days each  player  had  to  purchase  ten  dollars’  worth  of  checks, 
from  which  one  dollar  was  deducted.  The  game  was  a twenty- 
five  cent  ante  and  a dollar  limit.  In  this  game  were  to  be  found 
many  of  the  prominent  business  men  of  the  city,  and  court 
house  officials. 

Another  house  was  running  in  which  one  of  the  prominent 
doctors  of  the  town  was  a leading  member.  To  obtain  access  to 
the  gambling  room  one  had  to  pass  through  four  different  doors. 

Another  game  was  running  over  the  public  library,  kept  by 
the  Knox  brothers.  From  inside  information  we  received  it  was 
alleged  that  crooked  work  was  carried  on  in  this  establishment.  I 
know  personally  of  one  man  who  lost  over  $1,000  and  another 
$100  at  this  place.  Warrants  were  issued  by  county  detective 
Brown  for  the  two  brothers,  but  on  hearing  this  they  decided 
Franklin  was  no  longer  a fit  .place  for  them. 

While  giving  testimony  in  the  license  court  at  Franklin,  the 
saloon  lawyers  did  all  they  could  to  damage  my  evidence  and 
reputation  by  bringing  up  my  past,  and  referring  to  the  time 
vdien  I was  in  the  penitentiary  ( which  case  has  already  been 
stated),  and  tried  to  prove  that  I was  not  pardoned,  but  only 
paroled.  They  sent  telegrams  all  over  the  country  to  try  and 
work  up  something  against  me,  but  without  success.  All 
through  the  last  twenty-six  years  this  case  has  been  constantly 
brought  up  against  me,  and  I have  had  to  struggle  hard  against 
it.  Even  ministers  of  the  gospel  have  been  ready  to  believe 
the  slanders  that  the  opposition  have  repeatedly  brought  against 
me.  I am  thankful  to  say  that  while  man  may  misjudge  me. 
that  God  is  on  my  side  and  He  understands  all  things. 

The  Rev.  E.  B.  Welsh  wrote  to  several  gentlemen  who 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


23 


were  interested  in  the  case  at  the  time,  and  received  one  in  reply 
from  ex-Governor  Charles  P.  Johnson,  of  Missouri. 

The  following  article  is  from  the  Franklin  Evening  News, 
Saturday,  April  6th,  1912 : 

Rev.  E.  B.  Welsh,  pastor  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church, 
Oil  City,  who  is  one  of  those  named  by  Quinn  as  having  brought 
him  to  Venango  county,  has  issued  the  following  statement: 

The  Oil  City  Ministers’  Association  took  action  some  months 
ago  committing  that  body  to  an  effort  to  protect  the  youth  and 
homes  of  our  community  by  securing  better  moral  conditions.  A 
committee  was  appointed  with  authority  to  secure  a detective  and 
investigate  alleged  violations  of  law.  This  committee  after  careful 
inquiry,  selected  and  engaged  two  men  highly  recommended  by  a 
similar  committee  in  Canton,  O.,  by  whom  they  had  been  employed 
for  work  of  the  same  sort.  These  men,  Messrs.  Quinn  and  Ashby, 
are  not  professional  detectives,  but  have  been  working  together  in 
a fight  against  vice,  writing,  speaking,  demonstrating  gambling 
methods  and  occasionally  doing  such  investigation  as  that  for  which 
they  were  called  to  Oil  City. 

They  came  here  at  the  end  of  last  November  and  have  given 
a large  part  of  their  time  from  that  date  until  March  30th  to  work 
required,  with  results  satisfactory  to  the  committee.  During  the 
recent  license  court  hearings  a determined  effort  was  made  to  dis- 
credit Mr.  Quinn,  and  good  people  have  doubtless  been  influenced 
by  the  insinuations  brought  forward.  Therefore,  the  Ministers’ 
Associations,  at  a meeting  held  April  1,  directed  the  writer,  as  chair- 
man of  the  committee,  to  make  this  statement  through  the  press: 

“ Mr.  Quinn  was  engaged  after  careful  inquiry,  and  consider- 
able information  about  his  past.  W have  confidence  in  those  who 
commended  him,  and  our  confidence  in  him  has  been,  as  is  now,  com- 
plete. In  Oil  City  he  has  done  only  what  a man  would  be  expected 
to  do  in  the  course  of  such  work,  and  nothing  for  which  we  need 
apologize.  W’e  believe  him  to  be  a Christian  gentleman,  engaged 
from  conviction  of  duty  in  a work  which  few  men  would  have  cour- 
age to  undertake.  Mr.  Quinn’s  enemies  made  an  attack  on  the 
ground  of  facts  which  he  himself  told,  about  his  prison  life.  He 
made  no  defense  of  his  earlier  career.  He  was  a gambler,  was  a law 
breaker,  and  several  times  was  arrested,  but  the  imprisonment  in 
question  was  for  a crime  of  which  he  was  not  guilty,  and  he  was  re- 
leased. Mr.  Quinn  was  converted  while  in  prison,  and  has  since  de- 
voted his  life  to  fighting  the  vices  which  had  so  nearly  ruined  him. 
His  work  has  been  commended  by  prominent  reformers  like  Rev.  Dr. 
Charles  H.  Parkhurst.  by  Y.  M.  C.  A.  secretaries,  such  as  C.  W. 
Dietrich  and  George  H.  Slahy,  by  the  clergy  of  the  Roman  Catholic 
church ; for  instance,  the  Rev.  Father  P.  ]\I.  Cauley,  of  Erie,  by 
the  Ministers’  Association  of  Erie,  and  other  cities ; by  Matt.  W. 
Pinkerton,  the  Chicago  detective,  etc.  The  following  letter  was  a 


24 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


reply  to  inquiries  recently  addressed  by  the  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee to  ex-Governor  Johnson,  of  Missouri; 


St.  Louis,  IMarch  28,  1912. 


Rev.  E.  B.  Welsh  : 

Dear  Sir:  I take  pleasure  in  endorsing  INIr.  John  P.  Quinn  as 
an  honest  and  worthy  citizen,  who  has  for  years  fought  a good  fight 
for  the  suppression  of  vice,  especially  the  vice  of  gambling.  He 
does  not  deny  that  at  one  period  of  his  life  he  was  addicted  to  the 
practice,  but  he  reformed  and  did  so  in  sincerity  and  truth.  So  far 
as  his  prison  life  is  concerned,  he  was  the  victim  of  one  of  the  most 
unfortunate  cases  of  mistaken  identity  that  I ever  knew.  Traveling 
in  Indiana  in  1887,  he  was  arrested  and  charged  in  company  with 
others,  by  a farjner,  of  swindling  him  in  a trade  of  some  kind,  the 
nature  of  which  I cannot  now  recall.  However,  they  were  hurried 
to  trial  and  convicted  without  any  intelligent  defense.  iMr.  Quinn, 
w'hom  I had  known  in  St.  Louis,  sent  for  me  and  I went  to  Indiana 
to  see  him,  and  thereupon  I undertook  to  investigate  his  case.  I not 
only  established  the  fact  that  i\Ir.  Quinn  and  his  companions  were 
not  the  parties  that  the  farmer  supposed,  but  I succeeded  in  having 
the  real  parties  to  the  swindling  hunted  down,  arrested,  brought  to 
trial  and  convicted,  the  farmer  himself  admitting  that  he  was  mis- 
taken. Of  course,  when  this  was  effected.  Governor  Gray  very 
promptly  pardoned  IMr.  Quinn  and  his  companions.  I think  from 
that  time  on  Mr.  Quinn  has  devoted  his  time  to  doing  good,  as  far 
as  lay  in  his  power  to  do  so.  This  experience  was  a bitter  one,  but 
instead  of  making  him  a hater  of  mankind,  it  made  him  more  sym- 
pathetic and  humane.  I write  this  in  response  to  your  inquiry  and 
in  justice  to  Mr.  Quinn.  I am, 

^Vry  truly  yours, 

(Signed.)  Chas.  P.  Johnson. 


We  believe  the  majority  of  Oil  City  people  stand  with  our 
association  in  its  ideals  of  moral  betterment,  and  that  they  will  en- 
dorse the  work  and  the  workers,  when  the  facts  are  once  fairly  set 
before  them.  We  -wish  to  speak  in  praise  of  the  good  work  already 
done  by  our  present  police  force  in  suppressing  those  evils  against 
which  our  efforts  are  directed. 

(Signed.)  E.  B.  M'elsh. 


Returning  to  Canton  to  resume  our  fight  there,  we  discov- 
ered that  during  our  absence  over  one  hundred  slot  machines 
had  been  placed  in  saloons  and  cigar  stores  and  were  in  opera- 
tion. We  obtained  evidence  on  these  with  the  help  of  Kenneth 
and  Donald  IMiller,  of  Navarre,  two  brothers  who  had  recently 
been  converted.  Over  ninety  arrests  were  made  and  other  gam- 
bling houses  raided.  Two  of  these  houses  were  raided  twice 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


25 


within  a short  time.  The  illustration  here  shown  is  that  of  the 
Derby  saloon  on  East  Eighth  street,  over  which  was  a notorious 
poker  joint.  The  building  at  the  time  was  owned  by  Eorest 
Whitmer,  and  one  “ Butch  ” Wagner  was  charged  with  running 
the  gambling  house. 

The  other  gambling  house  mentioned  was  over  the  Arcade 
saloon  on  East  Tuscarawas  street.  The  building  said  to  be 
owned  by  the  Home  Brewing  Co.  It  is  claimed  that  the  income 
of  this  gambling  joint  was  about  $1,500  a day.  Race  boards. 


roulette,  telegraph  instruments,  etc.,  were  found  there.  Those 
arrested  in  connection  with  the  place  were  Edward  A.  Polman, 
Tom  Burke,  J.  F.  Earn,  Charles  Salnave,  Harry  Cummings  and 
F.  Garret.  They  were  bound  over  to  Probate  Court  by  Justice 
Rinehart,  but  Judge  Bow  decided  that  the  Probate  Court  had  no 
jurisdiction  in  the  matter.  At  the  time  of  going  to  press  we  were 
given  to  understand  that  the  decision  would  be  appealed  to  the 
higher  courts. 

We  obtained  much  evidence  on  various  forms  of  vice  which 
was  never  acted  upon  by  the  vice  crusade  committee. 

We  concluded  our  work  at  Canton  on  September  10th  and 
11th,  1912,  when  we  delivered  two  illustrated  lectures  in  the 
First  LTnited  Brethren  Church.  We  showed  about  eighty  pic- 
tures of  houses  v/here  there  were  violations  of  the  law,  and 


26 


GAA'IBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


named  many  of  the  property  owners.  After  these  lectures  were 
given  several  of  the  houses  mentioned  had  “ to  rent  ” signs  in 
the  windows. 

I am  now  in  my  67th  year.  Whether  I shall  ever  be  called 
upon  by  God  to  take  part  in  any  other  great  crusade  I cannot 
say,  but  I am  content  to  leave  all  to  His  Divine  guidance.  The 
remainder  of  my  life  I hope  to  spend  in  the  service  of  the  IHaster, 
and  thus  I hope  to  be  found  when  the  great  and  final  call  shall 
come. 


THE  THREE  STAGES  OF  A GAMBLER’S  LIFE. 


The  foregoing  illustration  presents,  in  a form  calculated  to 
strike  the  eye  and  impress  the  mind,  a view  of  the  gradations 
in  the  downward  career  of  a gambler. 

Starting  out,  with  high  hopes  of  pleasure  to  be  derived  and 
wealth  to  be  gained  through  a life  devoted  to  the  ruin  of  his 
fellowmen,  he  boldly  enters  upon  the  way  whose  end  is  death 
and  whose  steps  “ take  hold  on  hell.”  Costly  is  his  attire  and 
elastic  his  step  as  he  at  first  ventures  upon  the  road  whose 
path  is  a quagmire  and  whose  downward  course  is  beset  with 
thorns. 

As  he  advances,  he  finds  the  declivity  growing  deeper;  his 
feet  are  sore  and  his  raiment  torn.  Too  late  he  perceives  his 
error,  and  realizes  that  it  is  far  easier  to  descend  than  to  climb 
the  torturous,  slippery  path.  The  illusion  is  dispelled;  the 
glamour  has  gone  out  in  darkness.  No  longer  the  jovial,  roy- 
stering,  “ hail-fellow-well-met,”  he  has  become  the  midnight 
prowler,  dependent  for  his  very  subsistence,  upon  the  scanty 
earnings  which  he  derives  from  the  percentage  doled  out  to  him 

37 


28 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


by  more  prosperous  members  of  the  same  villainous  craft  for 
betraying  the  confidence  of  his  friends  and  luring  the  unwary 
to  their  destruction.  He  realizes  his  situation,  only  to  curse  it; 
he  would  retrace  his  steps  if  he  knew  how,  but  his  chosen  sin 
holds  him  with  a grasp  as  close  as  the  coil  of  the  deadly  ana- 
conda. 

In  the  figure  of  the  forlorn  tramp,  a destitute,  penniless 
wanderer,  a pariah  and  an  outcast,  we  see  him  approaching  his 
wretched  end.  The  pitiless  storm  that  beats  in  his  face  is  but 
the  sighing  of  the  summer  wind  as  compared  with  that  which 
rages  in  his  breast.  The  wind  that  howls  in  his  ears  seem  to 
chant  the  requiem  of  home,  happiness,  hope,  honor,— all  that 
men  hold  dear.  And  3'et  he  must  go  on ; on,  into  the  blinding 
sleet ; on  into  the  unknown  future ; on,  until  he  reaches  the 
Potter’s  field ; on  until  he  stands  before  the  bar  of  God. 

Certain!}"  it  can  be  no  mistake  to  call  such  an  one  a “fool  of 
fortune,”  a fool  enslaved  l)y  his  own  degraded  instincts  and  be- 
sotted passions,  a fool  who,  in  the  words  of  Scripture,  “ has  said 
in  his  heart  there  is  no  God.’’  But  professional  blacklegs  are 
not  the  onl}-  " fools  of  fortune."  The  young  man.  just  entering 
upon  the  path  of  life ; the  middle  aged  man  of  family,  who 
squanders  at  the  gaming  table  the  money  which  should  go  to 
buy  luxuries,  comforts,  perhaps  even  necessaries  for  those  de- 
pendent upon  him  ; the  old  man,  who,  about  to  sink  into  the 
grave,  finds  it  impossible  to  overcome  the  fascination  of  the  vice 
which  has  reduced  him  from  affluence  to  penur}'- — these,  one 
and  all,  are  fools.  The  savings  of  a lifetime,  dissipated  in  an 
hour,  the  cherished  hopes  of  years  blighted  b_v  the  turn  of  a 
card — these  are  every  day  occurrences  in  the  hells  where  one 
class  of  fools  worship  “ Fortune,”  and  another  class  delude 
themselves  by  the  belief  that  it  is  possible  for  mone}'  dishonestly 
acquired  to  bring  with  it  anything  but  a curse. 

It  is  with  the  hope  that  those  who  have  not  already  entered 
upon  this  course  ma}'  be  deterred  from  entering  upon  it  and  that 
those  who  may  have  already  tasted  the  false  pleasures  of  an  un- 
health}" excitement  ma}"  be  induced  to  pause  before  it  is  too  late, 
that  the  author  has  made  his  frank  confession  of  his  own  follies 
and  his  revelation  of  the  secret  arts  of  the  gambler’s  devil-born 
arts. 


POKER. 


The  game  of  poker  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  “ peculiar 
institutions  of  the  United  States  and,  like  baseball,  may  be 
c/illed  a ‘ National  game.’  ” It  finds  an  abiding  place  alike 
among  the  pineries  of  the  frozen  Kennebec  and  the  orange 
groves  of  Florida,  in  the  gilded  salons  of  Manhattan  Island,  the 
backwoods  of  Arkansas,  and  the  mining  camps  of  California. 
It  numbers  among  its  devotees  men  of  letters  and  of  the  pro- 
letariat, the  millionaire  and  the  shoe-black,  the  railway  magnate 
and  the  tramp.  It  recognizes  no  distinction  of  age,  color, 
or  previous  condition  of  servitude.  It  draws  not  the  line 
of  sex,  and  is  equally  at  home  in  the  fashionable  club  house  and 
the  gambler’s  den,  the  private  parlor  and  the  cheap  lodging 
house.  Men  who  avowedly  abhor  it,  play  it  behind  closed  doors 
and  drawn  curtains,  and  ladies  of  culture  and  high  social  posi- 
tion are  among  its  most  devoted  and  most  skillful  patrons.  To 
describe  its  fascination  is  as  difficult  as  to  account  for  it,  yet  the 
undisputable  fact  remains  that  of  the  vast  army  of  men  con- 
nected with  mercantile  pursuits  in  the  United  States,  compara- 
tively few  can  be  found  who  have  not  some  knowledge  of  the 
game : and  were  the  whole  truth  disclosed,  no  insignificant  num- 
ber might  reveal  a tale  of  losses  of  no  little  magnitude. 

Gentlemen,  who  would  not,  for  worlds,  enter  a gaming 
hell,  and  who  are  apt  to  pride  themselves  upon  their  ignorance 
of  faro,  play  poker  at  their  clubs  and  by  their  own  firesides, 
without  either  compunction  of  conscience  or  pretense  of  con- 
cealment. Intelligent,  thoughtful  men,  eulogize  the  game  as 
far  remov^ed  from  vulgarity,  as  calling  into  exercise  some  of  the 
highest  faculties  of  the  human  mind,  and  as  resulting  in  healthy, 
moral  effects. 

This  enthusiastic  laudation  of  the  game  is  all  very  well,  but 
the  naked  facts  remain,  that  whatever  argument  may  be  ad- 
vanced against  any  form  of  gambling,  may  be  urged  with  equal 
force  against  poker ; and  that  this  game  sanctioned  as  it  prac- 
tically is,  by  the  countenance  of  the  reputable  men  who  never 
set  foot  within  a gambling  house,  has  done  more  to  weaken  the 
moral  sense  of  the  country  at  large  as  to  the  general  question 

29 


30 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


of  gambling  than  any  other  single  agency.  Its  growing  popular- 
ity and  increasing  prevalence  constitute  a menace  by  no  means 
to  be  ignored  to  the  prosperity,  the  morals,  even  the  perpetuity 
of  the  people.  A nation  of  gamblers  is  a nation  whose  course 
is  already  turned  towards  the  setting  sun. 

In  playing  a fair  game  of  poker,  the  deal  is  of  no  special 
value  and  anybody  may  begin. 


Arm  Chair  Poker  Table,  supplied  with  Invisible 
Attachment  for  Holding-Out. 

The  dealer,  beginning  with  the  person  at  his  left,  throws 
around  five  cards  to  each  player,  giving  one  card  at  a time. 

The  dealer  shuffles  and  makes  up  the  pack  himself,  or  it 
may  be  done  b}"  the  player  at  his  left,  and  the  player  at  his  right 
must  cut. 

To  begin  the  pool,  the  player  next  to  the  dealer  on  his  left, 
must  put  up  money,  which  is  called  an  “ ante,”  and  then  in  suc- 
cession, each  player,  passing  around  to  the  left,  must  after  look- 
ing at  his  hand,  determine  if  he  goes  in  or  not;  and  each  player 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


31 


deciding  to  play  for  the  pool  must  put  in  twice  the  amount  of 
the  ante.  Those  who  decline  to  play  throw  up  their  cards,  face 
downward  on  the  table,  and  per  consequence  in  front  of  the  next 
dealer. 

When  all  who  wish  to  play  have  gone  in,  the  person  putting 
up  the  ante  can  either  give  up  all  interest  in  the  pool,  thus  for- 
feiting the  ante  which  has  been  put  up,  or  else  can  play  like 
the  others  who  have  gone  in,  by  “ making  good,”  that  is,  putting 
up,  in  addition  to  the  ante  as  much  more  as  will  make  him  equal 
in  the  stake  to  the  rest. 

The  players  must  throw  away  their  discarded  cards  before 
taking  up  or  looking  at  those  which  they  draw. 

In  poker,  as  fairly  played,  every  player  is  for  himself  and 
against  all  others,  and  to  that  end  will  not  let  any  of  his  cards 
be  seen,  nor  betray  the  value  of  his  hand  by  drawing  or  playing 
out  of  his  turn,  or  by  change  of  countenance,  or  any  other  sign. 
It  is  a great  object  to  mystify  your  adversaries  up  to  the  “ call,” 
when  hands  have  to  be  shown.  To  this  end  it  is  permitted  to 
“ chaff,”  or  talk  nonsense,  with  a view  of  misleading  your  adver- 
saries as  to  the  value  of  your  hand,  but  this  must  be  without 
unreasonably  delaying  the  game. 

When  the  drawing  is  all  complete,  the  betting  goes  around 
in  order,  like  the  drawing,  to  the  left.  The  ante  man  is  the  first 
to  bet  rtnless  he  has  declined  to  play,  and  in  that  case  the  first 
bet  is  made  by  the  player  nearest  to  the  dealer  on  his  left.  But 
the  player  entitled  to  bet  first  may  withhold  his  wager  until 
the  others  have  bet  round  to  him,  which  is  called  “ holding  the 
age,”  and  this  being  considered  an  advantage,  is  very  frequently 
done. 

Each  bettor  in  turn  must  put  into  the  pool  a sum  equal  at 
least  to  the  first  bet  made ; but  each  may  in  turn  increase  the 
bet,  or  “raise”  it,  as  it  comes  to  him;  in  which  case  the  bets 
proceeding  round  in  order  must  be  made  by  each  player  in  his 
turn,  equal  to  the  highest  amount  put  in  by  any  one ; the 
party  who  fails  being  required  to  go  out  of  the  play,  forfeiting 
his  interest  in  the  pool. 

When  a player  puts  in  only  as  much  as  has  been  put  in  by 
each  player  who  preceded  him,  that  is  called  “setting  the  bet.” 

When  a player  puts  in  that  much,  and  raises  it,  that  is  called 
seeing  the  bet  and  “ going  better.” 

When  the  bet  goes  around  to  the  last  bettor,  or  player,  who 


32 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


remains  in,  if  he  does  not  wish  to  see  and  go  better,  he  simply 
sees  and  “calls,”  and  then  all  playing  must  show  their  hands,  and 
the  highest  hand  wins  the  pool. 

When  any  one  declines  to  see  the  bet,  or  the  increase  of  bet, 
which  has  been  made,  he  “ lays  down  ” his  hand ; that  is,  throws 
it  up  with  the  cards  face  downwards  on  the  table.  If  all  the 
other  players  throw  down  their  hands,  the  one  who  remains  in 
to  the  last  wins,  and  takes  the  pool  without  showing  his  hand. 

To  “ bluff  ” is  to  take  the  risk  of  betting  high  enough  on  a 
poor  hand  or  a worthless  one,  to  make  all  the  other  players  lay 
down  their  hands  without  seeing  or  calling  you. 

When  a hand  is  complete  so  that  the  holder  of  it  can  play 
without  drawing  to  better  it,  that  is  called  a “ pat  ” hand.  A 
bold  player  will  sometimes  decline  to  draw  any  cards,  and  pre- 
tend to  have  a “ pat  ” hand,  and  play  it  as  such  when  he  has 
none. 

A skillful  player  will  watch  and  observe  when  each  playei 
draws,  the  expression  of  his  face,  the  circumstances  and  manner 
of  betting,  and  judge,  or  try  to  judge,  of  the  value  of  each  hand 
opposed  to  him  accordingly. 

No  one  is  bound  to  answer  the  question,  how  many  cards 
he  drew,  except  the  dealer ; and  the  dealer  is  not  bound  to  tel' 
after  the  betting  has  begun. 


Poker  Checks. 


One  of  the  most  vital  adjuncts  to  poker  games  as  played  in 
the  many  “ club  rooms  ” scattered  throughout  the  United  States 
is  technically  termed  the  “ take-off.”  It  is  an  amount  taken  by 
the  proprietors  out  of  the  pots  as  a percentage  due  the  “ house  ” 
on  every  hand  “ called,”  and  shown  down : a pair  of  aces  and 
another  pair,  and  you  must  “ go  to  the  hole  ” with  a check.  The 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


33 


“ hole  ” is  a slot  cut  in  the  table,  leading  to  a locked  drawer 
underneath,  and  all  checks  deposited  therein  are  the  property 
of  the  keeper  of  the  place.  At  other  resorts  the  house  takes  off 
for  each  pair  of  jacks  or  any  better  hand  shown  on  the  call, 
while  at  others  the  percentage  is  exacted  for  any  two  pairs 
shown.  It  will  be  readily  seen,  by  any  intelligent  reader,  that 
it  is  only  a question  of  time  when  all  the  player’s  chips  will  go 
into  the  “hole.”  The  exaction  of  the  “take-off”  is  justified  on 
the  score  of  incidental  expenses,  lights,  etc.,  but  a compound  in- 
terest note,  on  which  interest  is  computed  quarterly,  will  not 
take  away  your  money  more  surely  o'-  more  rapidly  than  this 
innocent  looking  “ hole.” 

In  “ stud-poker  ” the  dealer  attends  to  the  “ take-off.”  He 
is  supposed  to  take  one  check  for  every  pair  in  sight,  and  for 
every  “ call,”  but  owing  to  a manual  dexterity  acquired  through 
long  practice  he  is  enabled  considerably  to  exceed  the  stipulated 
limit,  and  it  is  but  a short  time  before  all  the  money  played 
against  the  game  is  in  the  table  drawer. 

There  are  many  methods  in  vogue  for  cheating  at  poker,  the 
■explanation  of  the  principal  ones  being  as  follows : 

Strippers.  Prepared  cards  are  either  “ strippers  ” or 
■‘briefs.”  In  preparing  “strippers”  the  professional  selects 
from  the  pack  two  hands,  which  may  be  either  “ fulls,” 

“ flushes,”  or  “ fours.”  The  sides 
of  the  remaining  cards  are  then  pre- 
pared so  that  they  shall  be  a little 
narrower  than  the  hands  selected. 
The  cards  withdrawn  for  stripping 
are  then  cut  slightly  convex  on  the 
sides,  somewhat  after  the  manner 
of  strippers  prepared  for  faro. 

The  number  of  cards  taken  out  varies  according  to  the 
character  of  the  hand  to  be  made  up.  If  the  sharper  wishes  to 
deal  flushes  he  will  require  ten  cards  of  the  same  suit.  If  full 
hands  are  desired  he  picks  out  two  sets  of  three  of  a certain 
denomination  together  with  four  smaller  cards  of  a kind.  The 
object  of  this  selection  is  to  give  variety  to  the  hands  to  be  dealt. 
T'he  manner  of  conducting  this  scheme  of  fraud  is  substantially 
as  follows;  As  the  gambler  shuffles  it  is  not  difficult  for  him 
to  feel  along  the  sides  of  the  pack  with  the  fingers  of  the  right 
hand;  he  then  draws  out  the  wider  cards,  which  he  places  upon 


34 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


the  top  of  the  pack.  V/hen  he  has  succeeded  in  getting  the  wide 
cards  on  top  he  next  divides  the  pack,  then  taking  each  portion 
by  the  outer  ends,  he  places  the  two  halves  evenly  together 
and  then,  with  comparative  ease,  but  instead  shall  alternate  over 
and  under  each  other  throughout  the  whole  deck. 

The  reader  who  will  carefully  study  the  foregoing  explana- 
tion will  see  that  the  cards  will  run  off  “ four-handed that 
is  that  they  will  fall  to  the  hands  of  the  opposite  players. 

Briefs.  The  “ brief,”  which  is  a card  used  not  only  in 
poker,  but  also  in  various  other  games,  is  a card  nicely  trimmed 
on  the  sides  to  such  a width  that  it  can  be  readily  distinguished 
by  the  dealer’s  touch. 

The  advantage  of  using  such  a card  is  that  it  enables  the 
party  knowing  of  its  existence  to  cut  at  the  point  where  it  lies. 
Sometimes  the  “ brief  ” is  placed  on  the  top  of  the  prepared  hand 
and  the  confederate  of  the  dealer  uncovers  the  pre-arranged 
cards  by  making  precisely  the  correct  cut. 

Stocking.  B}^  far  the  most  common  description  of  frauds 
employed  by  professional  gamblers  in  playing  poker,  however, 
is  that  of  “ stocking  ” the  cards.  Four  varieties  of  “ stocks  ” are 
employed  by  the  fraternity,  commonly  known  as  the  top  stock, 
the  bottom  stock,  the  jog  stock  and  the  palm  stock. 

The  Top  Stock.  Of  all  these,  perhaps  the  one  most  ordi- 
narily employed — possibly  because  the  one  most  easily  accom- 
plished— is  the  top  stock.  In  preparing  the  pack  for  the  perpe- 
tration of  this  fraud,  the  dealer  selects  a pair  and  places  between 
the  two  cards  as  many  others  as  there  are  players  at  the  table, 
less  one.  Thus,  if  there  are  four  persons  playing  he  inserts  three 
cards  between  the  two  constituting  a pair;  if  five,  he  places 
four;  and  so  on,  as  the  number  of  players  is  greater  or  less.  His 
next  step  is  to  place  above  the  pair  thus  arranged,  the  same 
number  of  cards  which  he  has  placed  between  them,  the  result 
being  that  when  he  deals,  the  two  cards  which  he  desires  must 
necessarily  fall  to  his  own  hand.  If  the  sharper  can  manage  to 
get  hold  of  the  three  cards  of  the  hands  which  are  thrown  up 
he  may  sometimes  find  it  practicable  to  arrange  “ threes  of  a 
kind  ” in  this  wa}^  as  well  as  a pair. 

The  Bottom  Stock.  In  executing  the  bottom  stock  the  tac- 
tics employed  are  substantially  the  same  as  in  the  top  stock,  by 
that  the  pair  are  placed  on  the  bottom  of  the  pack  instead  of 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


35 


on  the  top.  The  dealer  takes  great  care  in  shuffling  in  that  he 
does  not  disturb  the  lower  part  of  the  pack.  The  point  at  which 
the  deck  is  cut  makes  considerable  difference  in  the  success  of 
this  maneuver.  If,  after  cutting,  it  is  found  that  all  of  the  pack, 
except  the  cut,  is  necessary  to  supply  the  players  with  the  requi- 
site number  of  cards,  then  the  pair  will  fall  to  the  hand  which 
has  the  last  card,  for  the  reason  that  the  player  who  receives 
the  bottom  card  must  necessarily  have  received  the  other ; but 
if  the  dealer  sees  that  the  bottom  card  is  not  destined  to  fall  to 
himself,  when  he  reaches  the  last  two  cards  he  “ shifts  ” them, 
that  is,  reverses  the  order  of  dealing  so  that  the  party  who 
should  receive  the  top  one  receives  the  lower,  while  that  up- 
permost falls  to  the  next  player.  It  may  be  readily  perceived 
that  by  this  trick  the  dealer  has  separated  the  pair,  one  falling 
to  one  hand,  and  the  other  to  the  player  seated  immediately 
upon  the  dealer’s  left. 

The  Jog  Stock.  The  jog  stock  is  a device  which  it  is  ab- 
solutely impossible  to  execute  without  the  aid  of  a confeder- 
ate, yet  it  is  regarded  by  professionals  as  one  of  the  most 
effectual  means  of  defrauding  an  honest  player.  As  in  the  case 
of  the  top  and  the  bottom  stocks,  a pair  is  arranged  by  the 
dealer,  who  places  upon  it  a sufficient  number  of  cards  to  make 
the  pair  fall  to  his  own  hand.  He  next  shuffles  the  pack  once 
or  twice  in  such  a manner  as  to  keep  the  arranged  cards  on  the 
top,  after  which  he  slides  a portion  of  the  deck  over  the  pair, 
leaving  a narrow  break  or  jog  along  the  side,  thus  separating 
the  hand  which  he  has  put  up  from  the  remainder  of  the  pack. 
His  confederate,  it  should  be  remembered,  always  sits  on  his 
right,  then  takes  that  part  of  the  deck  which  rests  upon  the 
top  of  the  stocked  hand,  with  the  thumb  and  finger  of  his  right 
hand  grasping  them  by  the  ends.  Then  with  the  thumb  and 
middle  finger  of  his  left  hand  he  seizes,  in  the  same  manner, 
the  pre-arranged  cards  underneath ; he  draws  out  the  latter  and 
places  them  on  top  of  the  others,  leaving  them  in  precisely  the 
same  position  as  they  were  before  his  confederate  offered  them 
to  him  to  cut. 

An  expert  sharper,  after  winning  once  through  these  means, 
on  his  next  deal  so  arranges  the  pack  that  the  pair  shall  fall  to 
his  partner,  with  whom  he  bets,  and  to  whom  he  apparently 
loses  money.  After  this  the  cards  are  permitted  to  run  naturally 


36 


Gx\MBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


for  one  or  two  hands,  when  the  second  scoundrel  repeats  the. 
same  tactics. 

The  Palm  Stock.  No  little  dexterity  is  required  to  manipu- 
late the  palm  stock.  I have  seen  professionals  attempt  its  exe- 
cution and  come  to  no  small  grief  through  its  being  detected  in 
consequence  of  their  clumsiness.  In  order  to  execute  this 
maneuver  effectually,  the  party  intending  to  employ  it  must  be 
on  the  left  of  the  dealer.  He  obtains  possession  of  a high  pair — 
perhaps  kings  or  aces — and  while  he  is  holding  one  in  each  hand 
in  such  a way  that  neither  can  be  perceived,  he  asks  that  he  be 
allowed,  after  the  shuffling  and  cutting,  to  cut  the  deck  again. 
Permission  having  been  granted,  he  seizes  the  pack  in  his  right 
hand,  places  one  of  the  cards  which  he  has  withheld  in  his  right 
hand  on  top  of  the  pack,  and  as  he  cuts  he  leaves  as  many  cards 
on  the  table  as  may  be  necessary  to  intervene  the  pair  in  order 
that  they  may  be  “put  up.”  Then  as  he  grasps  these  cards  with 
his  left  hand  he  places  the  other  card  of  the  pair  on  the  top  and 
throws  them  on  the  top  of  the  pack.  It  is  not  difficult  to  see  that 
the  result  of  this  maneuvre  is  to  place  the  two  cards  which  he 
has  “ palmed  ” in  such  a position  that  they  will  inevitably  fall 
to  himself.  Of  course  it  is  not  possible  to  practice  this  trick 
frequently  without  exciting  suspicion,  but  I have,  myself,  by 
employing  it  judiciously,  managed  to  win  no  inconsiderable 
sums.  As  a rule,  after  executing  the  “ palm  stock,”  the  black- 
leg “ goes  a blind,”  and  the  trick  is  rarely  attempted  unless 
there  is  a large  ante. 

False  Shuffle.  x\nother  favorite  practice  among  the  black 
legs  is  the  “ false  shuffle.”  Almost  all  sharpers  have  their  own 
individual  methods  of  shuffling;  but  perhaps  the  one  which  is 
most  approved  is  that  known  among'  the  profession  as  “ the 
intricate  shuffle.”  It  is  executed  substantially  as  follows : The 
cards  are  “ ripped.”  that  is,  the  deck  is  divided  into  two  halves, 
which  are  pushed  entirely  through  each  other,  after  which  they 
are  drawn  out  at  the  ends,  and  the  half  which  Avas  previously 
on  top  is  replaced  in  the  same  position.  Some  professionals 
shuffle  only  the  lower  half  of  the  pack,  not  disturbing  the  top, 
but  concealing  the  upper  cards  by  means  of  keeping  three  or 
four  fingers  over  the  end  of  the  pack  Avhich  is  towards  their 
antagonist.  Sometimes  a A'ery  quick  shuffle  is  employed  Avhich 
does  not  disarrange  the  cards  on  the  top,  and  after  this  the  pack 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


3?' 


is  given  a double  false  cut,  by  means  of  which  the  cards  origin- 
ally uppermost  are  retained  in  the  same  position.  The  device, 
which,  if  rapidly  executed,  appears  to  the  unsophisticated  player 
a perfectly  fair  shuffle,  only  a practical  acquaintance  with  the 
operation  of  the  trick  enables  the  verdant  amateur  to  detect 
this  trick  when  executed  adroitly. 

False  Cuts.  Besides  false  shuffles,  professionals  also  have 
resort  to  false  cuts.  Of  these,  there  are  but  two  varieties  in 
common  use,  known  respectively  as  the  “ over  hand  ” and 
“ double  ” cut.  In  the  former  about  one-third  of  the  pack  is 
taken  with  the  right  hand,  while  one-half  the  remainder  is  con- 
cealed in  the  left.  The  party  cutting  brings  the  left  hand  to- 
wards him,  that  portion  of  the  deck  which  is  left  on  the  table  is 
then  covered  by  the  dropping  of  the  cards  held  in  the  right  hand, 
the  hand  still  being  kept  over  them,  while  those  in  the  left  hand 
are  thrown  over  and  beyond  the  others ; the  maneuvre  is  com- 
pleted by  placing  the  cards  in  the  right  hand  on  the  top. 

In  the  execution  of  the  “ double  ” cut,  the  middle  of  the 
pack  is  drawn  out  at  the  end  with  the  thumb  and  middle  finger, 
after  they  are  brought  to  the  top  of  the  deck,  the  cards  originally 
uppermost  are  caught  by  the  lower  part  of  the  thumb  and  three 
fingers,  drawn  out  at  the  end  and  once  more  placed  on  the  top. 
In  either  case  the  pack  is  left  in  precisely  the  same  position  as  it 
was  before  the  seeming  cut  had  been  made.  The  object  is  the 
same  as  in  the  case  of  both  false  shuffles  and  false  cuts ; that  is, 
to  leave  the  pre-arranged  pack  in  precisely  the  condition  in 
which  the  dealer  wished  it  to  be. 

Double  Discard.  Yet  another  device  of  the  professional 
poker  player  is  knov/n  as  the  double  discard.”  The  black-leg 
does  not  discard  until  after  he  has  made  a draft.  He  separates 
the  cards  which  he  wishes  to  discard  from  the  four  which  he 
nominally  proposes  to  retain,  holding  the  former  in  his  left  hand 
and  the  latter  in  his  right,  ready  for  a fraudulent  discard,  in 
case  he  sees  fit.  Calling  for  four  cards,  he  drops  those  which 
he  has  in  his  right  hand  immediately  in  front  of  him.  Next, 
he  lifts  the  draft  with  his  left  hand,  the  odd  card  of  course 
coming  on  top ; if  now  he  finds  in  the  draft  one  or  more  cards 
which  he  perceives  will,  with  the  aid  of  the  four  cards  lying  in 
Iront  of  him  on  the  table,  improve  his  chances,  he  retains  that, 
and  again  discards  the  four  cards.  He  then  drops  the  one 


38 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEX  ICES. 


which  he  has  retained,  upon  the  four  originally  rejected,  raises 
the  hand,  and  of  course  is  prepared  to  wager,  with  an  approxi- 
mate certainty  of  success. 


HOLDING  OUT. 


Of  all  the  practices  of  a dishonest  gambler  at  poker,  “ hold- 
ing out  ” is  perhaps  the  most  frequently  resorted  to.  It  consists 


of  abstracting  one  or  more  cards  from  the  pack,  which  are  se- 
creted either  about  the  person  of  the  player,  or  beneath  the  table. 
The  object  of  course  is  that  the  sharper  may  have  desirable  cards 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


39 


ready  to  produce  when  a favorable  opportunity  offers.  The  illus- 
tration shows  a man  detected  with  a sleeve  hold  out.  If  the 
person  to  be  deceived  is  especially  verdant  the  cards  withdrawn 
from  the  pack  are  sometimes  concealed  behind  the  collar,  or 
under  the  joint  of  the  knee  or  may  be  laid  upon  a handkerchief  in 
the  lap. 

Professionals  differ  considerably  in  the  methods  used,  and  I 
will  now  describe  some  of  those  in  vogue. 

The  Bug.  This  instrument  is  a very  simple  device  and  is 
often  made  by  the  gambler  himself.  “ B ” represents  a piece  of 
watch  spring  which  is  fastened  to  the  table  by  means  of  an  awl 
“ A ” in  such  a way  that  the  point  may  curl 

over.  The  awl  is  pressed  into  the  under  side  ^ / 

of  the  table.  The  watch  spring  snaps  up 
against  the  bottom.  Some  high  card  is  se- 
creted in  the  spring  which  holds  it  firmly  in  place.  When  the 
party  receives  one  or  more  cards  of  the  same  denomination  he 
has  secreted,  he  takes  the  concealed  card  from  its  place  and  re- 
places it  with  an  inferior  card  taken  from  his  hand.  It  will  be 
seen  that  he  thus  obtains  two  or  more  high  cards  of  the  same 
denomination. 


The  Sleeve  Hold  Out.  This  apparatus  consists  of  a leather 
band  (lettered  A in  the  illustration)  fastened  around  the  right 
arm,  beneath  the  coat  sleeve,  near  the  elbow,  to  which  is  at- 
tached a spring  pressure  upon  which 
works  a rod  which  connects  with 
a plate  (lettered  B in  the  cut).  The 
method  of  using  this  device  is  shown 
in  the  illustration.  The  cards  which 
are  “ held  out  ” are  placed  beneath 
the  plate  B,  which  holds  them  in  position.  When  the  player 
wishes  to  draw  from  his  sleeve,  he  presses  his  arm  against  his 
body,  thus  setting  in  operation  the  spring  which  works  the  rod 
and  throws  forward  the  concealed  cards  from  behind  the  plate, 
as  shown  in  the  cut. 


The  Vest  Hold  Out.  Some  gamblers  prefer  this  contri- 
vance to  any  other,  for  the  reason  that  it  permits  the  holding 
out  of  an  entire  hand  if  the  pla3^er  so  desires.  The  accompany- 
ing illustration  shows  the  method  in  which  it  is  worked.  “ A ” 


40 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


indicates  the  location  of  that  part  of  the  mechanism  which  holds 
the  abstracted  cards ; “ B ” is  a piece  of  catgut  attached  to  that 
part  of  the  apparatus  concealed  be- 
neath the  vest,  and  running  under- 
neath the  clothing  to  the  heel,  where 
it  is  fastened  either  to  the  shoe  or  the 
clothing.  The  cards  selected  to  be 
“ held  out  ” are  placed  inside  the 
clamp  underneath  the  vest.  When  the 
player  stretches  out  the  leg  along 
which  runs  the  catgut,  the  plate  inside 
the  vest  comes  forward  and  the  cards 
may  be  easily  withdrawn ; when  the 
heel  is  drawn  back  beneath  the  chair 
the  tension  on  the  catgut  is  increased, 
and  the  clamp  recedes  behind  the  vest. 

The  Table  Hold  Out.  This  dif- 
fers from  others  in  that  it  is  perma- 
nently attached  to  the  table,  instead 
of  being  carried  about  by  the  player  himself.  A card  may  be 
seen  protruding  above  the  surface  of  the  table,  directly  where 
the  cloth  covering  joins  the  wooden  border.  This  card  is  forced 
up  through  a concealed  slit  at  the  will  of  the  gambler,  by  means 

of  a hidden  mechanism.  The  dotted 
line  running  from  the  slit  to  the 
foot  of  the  table’s  leg  represents  a 
wire  which  operates  a spring 
whereb}"  the  card  is  forced  upward, 
or  lowered,  through  the  slit,  at  the 
option  of  the  manipulator.  “ A ” is 
a point  at  which  is  inserted  a small 
knob,  or  button,  pressure  upon 
which  Avorks  the  spring.  By  press- 
ing Avith  his  foot  at  ‘‘  B,”  the  player 
accomplishes  the  same  result.  This  forces  the  cards  up,  and  the 
sharper  takes  them  in  his  hand,  at  the  same  time  discarding  an 
equal  number  of  cards  from  his  hand  into  the  slit. 

The  Mystery  Card  Table.  This  table  is  considered  excellent 
for  magic  and  sleight-of-hand  AAmrk.  The  table  is  made  so  that 
the  operator,  when  sitting  doAvn  by  it,  in  a natural  position,  AAuth 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


41 


I 

I his  hands  lying  on  the  table,  can  cause  cards  to  come  into  or 
leave  his  hands  at  will,  without  anyone  seeing  the  operation.  This 
is  done  by  pressing  the  knee  against  a little  squeeze  under  the 
table,  which  causes  a false,  well  concealed  opening  in  the  top  of 


the  table  to  open  up.  With  the  same  operation  a little  receiver 
conies  up  and  the  operator  merely  drops  the  cards  into  the  re- 
ceiver, which  he  wishes  to  make  disappear.  Should  he  wish  the 
cards  to  reappear  or  come  into  his  hand  again,  he  merely  presses 
the  squeeze,  as  before. 


SHINERS. 

Of  all  the  devices  for  defrauding  at  poker,  the  “ shiner  ” is 
perhaps  the  most  simple  and  the  most  effective.  They  are  of 
various  forms.  At  first  a circular  piece  of  silver  highly  polished 
and  convex  in  form,  about  the  size  of  a five-cent  piece,  was 
used.  The  player  employing  it  places  it  on  the  table  in  front 
of  him,  using  the  utmost  pains  to  conceal  it  from  observation. 
The  advantage  resulting  from  its  employment  is  the  power  of 
reflecting  whatever  is  held  above  it  at  any  angle,  thus  enabling 


42 


GAMBLING  AND  GAI^IBLING  DEVICES. 


the  dealer  who  used  it  to  read  the  face  of  each  card  as  it  was 
taken,  face  downwards,  from  the  pack.  Of  late  years,  however, 
the  makers  of  these  implements  have  greatly  improved  the 
process  of  manufacture. 

Poker  Check  Mirror.  A very  fine  glass  is  set  in  five  poker 
chips,  and  can  be  played  at  any  distance  from  the  deck,  up  to  20 
inches.  Reflector  can  be  placed  in 
any  kind  of  checks,  of  any  color 
desired.  It  is  claimed  that  this 
mirror  stack  mixed  in  with  the 
other  stacks  is  a big  success  in  get- 
ting the  money. 

Triangle  Reducing  Glass.  This 
is  made  to  set  between  two  stacks 
of  poker  checks.  It  is  made  of  very 

fine  glass,  and  can  be  played  from  four  to 
twenty  inches  from  edge  of  table,  set  with 


friction 


hinges 


so  glass  can  be  lowered 


or  raised  as  required ; is  very  light  and 
compact,  can  be  closed  up  like  a book  and 
concealed  in  an  instant. 

Pipe  Reflector.  This  is  a genuine  French  briar  pipe,  with  a 
reflector  made  of  the  finest  imported  Swiss  flint  glass,  so  ar- 


ranged that  the  glass  can  be  put  in  or  out  at  a second’s  time, 
and  the  player  can  continue  to  smoke. 

The  above  illustrations  are  sufficient  to  show  the  many 
ways  of  securing  knowledge  of  what  the  other  fellow  holds. 


STUD  POKER. 

.\nother  variety  of  poker  in  great  favor  among  the  gambling 
fraternity  is  called  “ stud  poker,”  a stud  poker  table  now  consid- 
ered a necessary  adjunct  to  every  first  class  gambling  house. 
The  necessary  outfit  for  the  game  consists  of  checks,  cards  and 
a table  large  enough  to  seat  ten  or  twelve  persons.  Regular 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


43 


dealers  are  employed  and  usually  four  or  five  “ pluggers  ” (by 
which  term  are  designated  men  who  play  for  the  house  and 
with  money  belonging  to  the  proprietors).  The  game  is  very 
simple,  and  any  one  acquainted  v/ith  the  game  of  draw  poker 
can  play,  and  lose  his  money  as  easily  and  rapidly  as  he  could 
possibly  desire.  The  game  may  be  illustrated  as  follows : Sup- 
pose four  persons,  whom  we  will  designate  as  A,  B,  C and  D, 
sit  down  to  play.  In  some  games,  in  fact  usually,  each  player 
puts  up  one  check  as  an  ante.  This  having  been  done,  the  dealer 
deals  the  first  card,  face  downward,  to  each  player,  beginning 
with  the  one  who  sits  on  his  (the  dealer’s)  left;  another  card  is 
then  dealt  around  with  the  face  exposed,  as  must  also  be  the 
other  three  cards  in  case  a hand  of  five  is  dealt.  Let  us  suppose 


Stud  Poker  Table. 


that  A’s  exposed  card  is  an  ace,  B’s  a queen,  C’s  a nine  spot 
and  D’s  a ten.  He  can  wager  any  amount  he  chooses,  and  the 
others  can  throw  away  their  cards  or  “ stay  in,”  by  putting  up 
an  equal  stake  to  that  of  A's.  If  B,  C and  D should  throw  down 
their  cards,  the  checks  in  the  “ pot  ” belong  to  A,  and  the  dealer 
shuffling,  begins  another  deal.  Should  either  B,  C or  D “ see  ” 
A’s  bet  or  “ raise  ” him,  the  dealer,  deals  off  another  card,  face 
upward,  when  the  player  who  has  the  highest  cards  in  sight,  has 
« another  opportunity  to  “ pass  ” or  bet,  while  the  others  have  the 
choice  of  throwing  away  their  cards  or  “ seeing  ” the  bet,  and 
so  on  until  five  cards  are  dealt,  when  the  players  must  guess  at 
each  other’s  buried  card,  or  “ hole  card,”  as  it  is  technically 
called. 

Sometimes  at  stud  poker  an  instrument  known  as  “ the 
buck  ” is  used.  This  is  employed  where  all  the  pla^mrs  do  not 


44 


GAA'IBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


“ ante.”  Any  article  may  be  used  for  this  purpose.  Sometimes 
an  ivory  chip  with  a string  running  through  it ; sometimes  a 
circular  piece  of  leather,  its  material  and  form  are  unimportant. 
It  passes  in  rotation,  one  to  another,  the  player  in  front  of  whom 
it  is  placed  being  required  to  “ ante  ” a chip  and  receiving  the 
first  card  dealt.  The  game  then  proceeds  as  already  described. 
The  chances  for  “ crooked  work  ” are  legion.  In  a word  nearh' 
every  fraudulent  device  in  draw  poker  may  be  utilized  in  stud 
poker. 


FARO. 

The  origin  of  the  game  of  faro,  like  that  of  most  games  of 
cards,  is  obscure.  There  is  a tradition  that  it  emanated  from  the 
shore  of  the  Nile,  and  that  its  antiquity  is  as  venerable  as  that 


Faro  Table  with  Layout. 


of  the  pyramids.  Perhaps  this  rather  fanciful  theory  has  grown 
in  favor  from  the  fact  that  its  name  is  sometimes  spelled  "pharo,” 
the  name  of  the  founder  of  the  great  Egyptian  dtuiasty,  whose 
head  is  said,  in  ancient  times,  to  have  been  depicted  upon  one  of 
the  cards.  Be  this  as  it  may,  it  is  certain  that  centuries  ago  it 
was  popular  among  the  gamesters  of  France  and  other  countries 
of  Europe,  whence  it  crossed  the  channel  to  the  British  Isles 
and  later  Avas  brought  across  the  x\tlantic  to  America.  In  the 
United  States,  it  is  a game  par  excellence  at  every  gambling 
establishment,  being  at  once  the  most  absorbingly  fascinating 
to  players  and  the  most  profitable  to  the  bank.  Across  the  green 
cloth  which  separates  the  former  from  the  latter,  fortunes  are 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


45 


hourly  lost  and  won.  The  monotonous,  droning  call  of  the 
dealer,  falling  upon  the  ears  of  the  players,  whose  interest  is 
breathless  in  its  intensity,  has  proved  to  thousands  the  knell  of 
doom  to  wealth,  honor,  integrity,  and  happiness.  With  its  allure- 
ment of  excitement  and  its  tempting  bait  of  gain,  it  woos  its 
votaries  to  shipwreck  equally  certain  and  no  less  terrible  than 
that  which  befell  the  mariner  of  old,  whose  charmed  senses  drank 
in  the  intoxicating  music  of  the  siren’s  song.  Faro  has  been 
happily  likened  to  the  tiger,  which,  crafty,  treacherous,  cruel  and 
relentless,  hides  under  cover  waiting,  with  impatient  eagerness, 
for  the  moment  when  it  may  bury  its  velvet  covered  claws 
within  the  vitals  of  its  unsuspecting  victim  and  slake  its  fiery, 
unquenchable  thirst  with  his  life’s  blood. 

As  preparatory  to  a discussion  of  the  first  branch  of  the 
subject,  it  may  be  remarked  that  faro  is  pre-eminently  a game 
of  chance.  Even  when  played  with  absolute  fairness,  success 
or  failure,  fortune  or  misfortune,  depend — not  upon  the  skill  of 
the  player,  but  upon  the  caprice  of  blind  chance.  It  is  true 
that  mathematical  science  has  attempted  to  reduce  this  chance 
to  some  sort  of  law,  and  has  formulated  a theory  as  to  the  in- 
herent probability  or  improbability  of  certain  events  happening 
or  failing  to  happen,  and  there  are  devotees  of  faro  who  play 
upon  what  they  believe — with  a faith  which  approaches  the  sub- 
lime— to  be  an  infallible  “ system.”  But  the  doctrine  of  chance 
is,  after  all,  but  an  approximation  to  accuracy,  and  the  only 
certainty  about  any  system,  however  cunningly  devised,  is  the 
certainty  that  at  the  supreme  moment  it  will  prove  a delusion 
and  a snare. 

But,  to  return  to  the  method  of  playing;  Any  number  of 
persons  may  participate  in  the  game,  which  requires  a full  pack 
of  fifty-two  cards.  The  dealer  acts  as  “ banker,”  and  may,  at 
■ his  discretion,  limit  the  sums  to  be  played  for,  according  to  the 
amount  of  his  capital.  At  public  games,  this  functionary,  assisted 
by  one  or  more  persons  known  as  “ lookers-out,”  whose  duty  it 
is  to  watch  the  table,  the  players  and  the  bets,  with  a view  to 
seeing  that  the  bank’s  winnings  are  promptly  gathered  in,  and 
that  the  interests  of  “ the  house  ” are  properly  guarded.  In  order 
to  facilitate  the  making  of  bets,  players  purchase  checks,  usually 
made  of  ivory  or  bone  or  composition,  though  sometimes  of 
paste-board,  from  the  banker,  who  redeems  them  at  the  option 
of  the  holder.  Their  value  is  denoted  either  by  their  color,  or 


46 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


figures  stamped  upon  them.  The  limit,  which  the  banker  sets, 
may  be  of  two  kinds,  known  as  the  plain  and  the  running  limit. 
The  plain  limit  is  usually  twice  as  much  for  double,  treble  or 
quadruple  cards  as  for  single  cards.  That  is  to  say,  if  a player 
may  bet  $50  on  either  or  all  of  the  latter,  he  may  bet  $100  on  all 
or  any  of  the  double.  The  running  limit  is  any  sum  named  and 
its  multiple  of  four.  To  illustrate : The  running  limit  may  be  50 
and  200 ; in  that  case,  the  player  may  bet  $50,  and  if  he  Avins, 
may  suffer  the  original  stake  and  its  increase  (Avhich  would 
amount  to  $100)  to  be  where  it  is  or  move  it  to  another  place, 
where  he  may  win  another  $100,  thus  giving  him  with  his  first 


Folding  Board  with  Faro  Layout. 


Stake  $200,  which  is  the  limit.  This  is  known  as  parleeing  a bet, 
and  if  the  first  bet  is  five,  the  second  will  be  ten,  the  third 
twent}^  and  the  fourth  forty,  and  so  on.  Almost  all  bankers  will 
allow  a player  to  “ parlee,”  as  the  percentage  is  largely  in  favor 
of  the  bank. 

The  ace,  deuce,  cjueen  and  king  are  called  the  big  square ; 
the  deuce,  tray,  cpieen  and  jack  the  second  square,  and  so  on: 
the  six,  seven  and  eight  are  called  the  pot.  The  players  select 
their  cards  upon  Avliich  they  wish  to  bet,  and  lay  upon  them 
their  checks. 

Before  any  bets  are  made  the  dealer  shuffles  and  cuts  the 
cards  and  places  them  face  upward  in  a metal  box,  containing  an 
aperture  at  the  top,  sufficiently  large  to  allow  the  full  faces  of 
the  cards  to  be  seen.  Near  the  top  of  one  end  of  this  receptacle 
is  a horizontal  slit,  wide  enough  to  admit  the  passage  of  a single 
card,  and  at  the  bottom  are  four  springs,  which,  pressing  upward, 
automatically  force  the  pack  toward  the  top  of  the  box. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


47 


Faro  Copper. 


thus  keeping  one  card  always  opposite  the  slit.  The  top  card, 
called  the  “ soda,”  having  been  seen,  is  not  used  for  betting,  and 
is  laid  aside.  The  card  immediately  below  is  the  banker’s  card, 
and  it  wins  for  him  all  stakes  placed  upon  it  in  the  “ layout,” 
provided  it  has  not  been  “ coppered,”  as  ex- 
plained below.  The  next  is  the  player’s  card 
and  wins  for  him  in  the  same  manner.  Each 
pair  of  cards  taken  from  the  box  and  exposed 
constitute  what  is  denominated  a “ turn.”  It 
may  happen,  however,  that  the  player  may 
wish  to  bet  that  a certain  card  may  lose.  In 
that  case  he  places  a copper  (which  is  pro- 
vided for  the  purpose)  upon  the  top  of  his  stake.  This  is  called 
“ coppering,”  because  originally  old  fashioned  copper  cents  were 
employed  for  this  purpose. 

Whenever  two  cards  of  the  same  denomination  appear  in 
the  same  “ turn,”  the  dealer  takes  half  the  money  found  upon 
such  card.  This  is  called  a “ split,”  and  is,  in  effect,  a percent- 
age taken  by  the  bank.  If  a player  wins  his  bet  and  allows 
both  stake  and  winnings  to  remain  on  the  same  card  for  another 
“ turn,”  he  is  said  to  play  a paroli  or  parlee.  At  the  end  of  a 
“ turn  ” a pause  is  made,  to  permit  the  paying  of  bets  already 
determined  and  the  making  of  new  ones.  And  the  same  routine 
is  followed  until  the  pack  is  exhausted,  when  a fresh  deal  is 
made  and  the  process  repeated. 

When  there  is  but  one  turn  left  in  the  box,  the  player  may 
“ call  the  last  turn that  is,  guess  the  order  in  which  the  cards 
will  appear.  If  he  guess  correctly,  he  receives  either  two  or 
four  times  the  value  of  his  stake,  according  to  the  advantage 
which  he  enjoys  through  the  character  of  the  turn.  If  the  three 
cards  are  three  denominations  they  may  come  out  in  any  one 
of  the  six  different  ways ; if,  on  the  other  hand,  two  of  the  three 
cards  are  of  the  same  denomination,  only  three  arrangements 
are  possible.  Hence,  in  the  former  case,  if  he  guesses  correctly, 
the  banker  pays  him  four  times  the  amount  of  his  wager;  in  the 
latter  (which  is  technically  called  a “ cat  hop  ”)  he  wins  double 
its  value. 

When  the  dealing  box  was  first  introduced,  nearly  a cen- 
tury ago,  it  was  claimed  in  its  behalf  that  it  insured  absolute 
protection  against  fraud  on  the  part  of  either  dealer  or  players. 


48 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


Practically,  as  years  have  passed  and  new  features  have  been 
engrafted  upon  it,  it  has  become  the  most  effective  agency  for 
unlimited  fraud  that  the  most  nefarious  dealer  could  desire. 

In  order  to  have  a thorough  comprehension  of  the  follow- 
ing description  of  the  “ fake  ''  box  now  in  use,  it  may  be  well  that 
the  reader  understand  the  object  sought  to  be  gained  through 
them.  The  rules  of  the  game  require  that  but  one  card  shall  be 
dealt  at  a time.  To  a dealer  determined  to  win,  it  is  of  the  ut- 
most importance  to  know,  before  the  card  issues  from  the  box, 
what  that  card  is  going  to  be.  To  give  him  this  advantage  he 
uses  a box  so  constructed  that  he  can  control  its  operations  at 
will.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  his  cards  and  his  box  supplement 
each  other.  To  know  the  cards  would  avail  him  nothing  unless 
he  might  use  those  which  he  needed ; to  be  able  to  deal  fraudu- 
lently would  be  of  no  possible  advantage,  unless  he  knew  pre- 
cisely which  card  to  deal.  Taken  together,  they  form  a com- 


bination so  strong  as  to 
be  impregnable  to  the 
dupe  who  fancies  that  he 
and  his  crafty  opponent 
meet  on  a fair  field  in  the 
open,  even  if  not  honor- 
able, combat. 


The  accompanying 
cut  shoAvs  the  mechanism 


of  the  “ screAA'  box.’’ 
•-0  AAdiich  is  used  bA'  gam- 
■■■0  biers  for  dealing  crooked 


faro,  and  Avhich  is  also  a 
special  favorite  in  dealing 


“ red  and  black.” 


The  front  side  of  this 
box,  “ A,”  is  proA'ided 
AA'ith  three  thin  perpen- 


dicular plates,  of  which  tAA^o  are  stationary,  but  all  of  Avhich 
seem  to  be  solidly  joined  together.  BetAveen  the  stationary 
plates  “■  B ” and  ” D,”  Avhose  inner  surfaces  are  so  highly  pol- 
ished as  to  reduce  friction  to  a minimum,  slides  another  and  in- 
Ausible  plate,  marked  “ C,”  and  AAdiich  is  adjustable  and  highly 
sensitive  to  the  secret  manipulation  of  the  practiced  dealer.  This 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


49 


center  piece  “ C,”  when  properly  placed  and  at  rest,  presents  an 
upper  edge  a trifle  above  the  two  stationary  plates,  leaving  an 
aperture  so  narrow  that  the  dealer  can  take  but  one  card  from 
the  box  at  a time. 

“ F ” is  a screw  which  operates  a secret  lever,  “ E C,”  be- 
tween the  two  plates  “ B ” and  “ D.”  This  lever  hangs  on  a 
pivot  and  by  slightly  pi'essing  the  screw  with  the  thumb  the  ad- 
justable plate  “ C ” quickly  responds,  and  drops  until  its  edge  is 
even  with  those  of  the  stationary  plates  “ B ” and  “ D,”  thereby 
enabling  the  dealer  to  take  two  cards  from  the  box  at  one  time 
without  observation. 

Upon  removing  the  thumb  pressure  from  the  screw  “ F,” 
the  adjustable  plate  “ C ” rises  to  its  original  position. 

There  is  a flat  metal  piece  in  the  inside  of  the  box  at  the 
bottom  which,  when  pushed  forward,  instantly  and  securely 
locks  the  box,  preventing'  the  discovery  of  its  mechanism. 


Faro  Case  Keeper 


should  any  of  the  players  request  permission  to  examine  it. 
Such  permission  is  always  cheerfully  and  usually  courteously 
given. 

Finally,  inside  of  the  box,  as  in  all  others,  is  a thin  plate 
the  size  of  the  cards,  which  is  placed  in  a level  or  horizontal 
position,  upon  which  the  cards  rest,  and  which  is  supported  by 
four  steel  springs  that  force  the  cards  up  to  the  top  of  the  box 
so  that  they  may  always  be  ready  for  dealing. 


50 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


A record  of  the  game  is  kept  by  means  of  an  implement 
known  as  a “ case-keeper,”  which  is  usually  placed  in  care  of 
an  employe  of  the  establishment.  This  device  is  a miniature 
layout,  with  four  buttons  attached  to  each  wire  as  shown  in  the 
illustration.  These  buttons  run  on  wires,  one  of  which  extends 
from  the  end  of  each  card.  When  the  deal  begins,  all  the  but- 
tons are  shoved  up  close  to  the  cards ; as  soon  as  a " turn  ” is 
made,  the  two  buttons  opposite  the  cards  dealt  are  shoved  to 
the  opposite  ends  of  their  respective  wires.  This  enables  any 
one  around  the  table  to  see,  at  a glance,  how  many  cards  of 
each  denomination  remain  in  the  dealer’s  box.  When  all  four 
cards  of  any  one  denomination  have  been  dealt,  that  is  said  to 
be  “ dead.”  When  three  cards  of  any  one  denomination  have 
been  dealt,  the  one  remaining  in  the  box  is  called  the  “ case,” 
or  ‘‘single  card.” 

It  may  sometimes  happen  that  the  tally  of  a player  will 
not  agree  with  that  of  the  case  keeper,  owing  to  the  fact  that 
the  dealer  has  withdrawn  two  cards  where  he  should  have 
taken  one.  In  such  a case,  a trick  known  as  the  ‘‘  put  back  ’’  is 
employed.  A confederate  of  the  dealer  attracts  the  attention 
of  the  players  while  the  extra  card  or  cards  taken  from  the  box 
are  adroitly  returned  to  it  by  the  dealer.  Of  course,  there  must 
be  a perfect  understanding  between  the  latter  and  the  case 
keeper,  so  that  when  two  cards  are  dealt  at  once  a signal  may  be 
given  showing  the  denomination  of  the  second  card. 

In  case  a pia3mr  making  a bet  finds  that  he  has  been  mis- 
led by  the  incorrectness  of  the  record  kept  b}'  the  cue  keeper, 
the  invariable  rule  is  that  the  bet  must  be  determined  by  the 
cards  remaining  in  the  dealing  box,  a regulation  which  is,  to 
say  the  least,  not  at  all  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  bank. 

But  the  cheating  is  not  all  on  one  side,  and  a device  called  a 
hair  “ copper  " is  sometimes  employed  by  players  to  guard  against 
such  a possible  loss  on  a certain  description  of  bets.  This  hair 
” copper  ” consists  of  a piece  of  shoemaker’s  wax.  the  color  of 
the  check,  a horse  hair,  and  a string  of  rubber  attached  to  a 
band  around  the  wrist,  secreted  in  the  sleeve.  The  wax  adheres 
to  the  copper  at  one  end  of  the  horse  hair,  Avhich  is  invisible, 
the  other  end  being  fastened  to  the  rubber  string  which  is  ex- 
tended in  the  hand  to  the  tops  of  the  fingers.  Placing  this  cop- 
per ” on  a bet,  if  the  turn  comes  in  fa^mr  of  the  dealer  the 
player  ouickly  and  without  observation  loosens  the  rubber  which 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVIGES. 


51 


jerks  the  “ copper  ” into  his  sleeve,  causing  the  dealer  to  pay 
the  bet  he  may  have  fairly  won. 

One  of  the  methods  used  by  the  players  for  cheating,  is  to 
perforate  all  the  cards  of  a certain  description,  perhaps  of  either 
dark  suit,  from  the  two  to  the  ten,  with  an  instrument  known  as 
the  “ card  punch,”  of  which  the  accompanying  illustration  will 
enable  the  reader  to  form  a fair  conception. 

.v.. 

It  is  made  of  the  finest  steel,  and  is  employed  to  puncture 
cards  at  the  center.  A “ deck  ” thus  prepared  is  substituted  for 
that  which  the  banker  intends  to  place  in  the  box.  Sometimes, 
however,  in  this  “ diamond  cut  diamond  ” game,  an  entrance  is 
effected  to  the  dealer’s  room  and  the  “ punch  ” is  employed  on 
his  own  cards.  The  substitution  of  the  prepared  pack  for  that 
of  the  banker  is  the  fundamental  point  to  be  attained,  and  occa- 
sionally resort  is  had  to  desperate  expedients.  A fight  is  raised, 
and  in  the  melee  which  ensues  the  dealer’s  box  is  thrown  upon 
the  floor  and  the  substitution  quickly  accomplished. 

The  holes  made  by  the  punch  are  so  small  that  the  player 
is  often  beaten  by  it.  Whenever  a Avhite  surface  is  seen  through 
this  small  hole,  the  player  is  perfectly  certain  that  the  card 
underneath  is  the  deuce,  four,  six,  seven,  eight  or  ten,  and  may 
accordingly  back  these  cards  to  win  for  himself  with  absolute 
certainty.  If  a colored  surface  is  discerned,  he  is  equally  certain 
that  the  next  card  will  be  of  another  denomination. 

Besides  the  methods  of  cheating  already  described,  which 
relate  more  particularly  to  the  preparation  of  the  cards  and  the 
construction  and  operation  of  the  dealing  box,  there  are  other 
methods  well  known  to  professionals,  which  may  be  employed 
with  comparative  immunity  and  great  success  against  the  un- 
suspecting. 

“ Faked  ” dealing  boxes  are  not  always  the  “ thing  of 
beauty  ” and  perennial  source  of  joy  which  their  manipulators 
would  like  to  see  them.  They  occasionally  “ get  out  of  order.” 
A little  of  the  sand  which  has  been  used  in  the  preparation  of 
the  cards,  works  its  way  between  the  plates,  and  even  an  expert 
“ brace  ” dealer  finds  it  more  or  less  difficult  so  to  use  the  de- 
vice that  its  employment  cannot  be  detected.  At  Laredo,  Texas, 
some  years  ago,  a “ professional,”  who  was  a dealer  in  a famous 


52 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


house  in  a W estern  city,  encountered  a difficulty  of  this  sort. 
He  “ pulled  ” two  cards,  but  so  clumsily  that  the  “ sucker  ” ob- 
served it.  “ What’s  the  matter  with  your  box?”  the  player 
asked.  “ O,  it’s  a little  old,  and  don’t  work  just  right,”  was  the 
answer.  “Well,  see  here,”  said  the  Texan,  “that  was  an  al- 
mighty short  deal,  somehow.  Reckon  I’m  going  to  lose  money 
any  way;  but  hadn’t  you  better  go  a little  slower  and  make  one 
of  them  long  deals?  I’d  like  to  take  a little  more  time.”  The 
game  progressed  and  the  stranger  rose  from  the  table  a loser 
to  the  amount  of  three  hundred  dollars.  “ Look  here,”  he  re- 
marked to  the  dealer,  “ I reckon  you’d  better  give  me  back  the 
money  you’ve  cheated  me  out  of.”  The  gambler,  with  an  air 
of  the  utmost  nonchalance,  replied  that  he  would  be  blanked  If 
he  gave  back  any  of  it.  “ Well,”  remarked  the  countr3nnan,  as  he 
drew  down  his  slouch  hat  over  his  er^es  and  left  the  room,  “ I'll 
be  back  in  a few  minutes.”  No  sooner  had  he  gone  than  one 
of  the  employes  of  the  establishment  took  the  proprietor  aside 
and  advised  him  either  to  return  the  money  or  close  the  place 
at  once,  if  he  did  not  want  the  victim  to  return  and  shoot  him 
“ on  sight.”  The  proprietor  was  a capital  “ brace  ’’  dealer,  but 
physical  courage  was  not  his  chief  characteristic.  He  lost  ro 
time  in  acting  on  his  subordinate’s  suggestion.  Hastily  raising 
the  window  he  called  out  to  the  victim — whose  rapid!}'  vanish- 
ing form  was  still  in  sight — ■“  I say,  you  ! Come  back  here  a 
minute;  I want  to  see  you.”  The  “sucker”  came  back;  the 
gambler  greeted  him  cordially.  “ You  old  idiot,’’  said  he,  ‘‘  can’t 
you  take  a little  joke?  Of  course  I knew  that  you  were  ‘cap- 
ping ’ (i.  e.,  acting  as  ‘ capper  ’)  for  the  game.  Here’s  your 
money  old  man.”  Lie  handed  him  a roll  of  currenc}',  which  the 
stranger  pocketed  with  a grim  smile  of  satisfaction.  But  sub- 
sequent events  proved  that  the  proprietor  “ had  builded  better 
than  he  knew.”  Sitting  around  the  room  were  other  men  who 
had  lost  money  and  seen  a fellow  sufferer  receive  back  his  losses, 
it  did  not  take  long-  for  the  crowd  to  extinguish  the  lights,  and 
in  the  darkness  the  unlucky  dealer  was  “held  up”  for  ever}' 
dollar  that  he  had  with  him. 

ROUGE  ET  NOIR;  OR,  RED  AND  BLACK. 

As  played  in  this  countr}q  this  game  differs  materially  from 
the  mode  of  playing  in  vogue  on  the  continent  of  Europe.  Here 
the  method  of  play  is  vastly  simplified,  but  it  has  degenerated 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


53 


into  a mere  scheme  of  robbery.  The  players  are  utterly  at  the 
mercy  of  the  manipulators  of  the  machine. 

The  game  is  always  played  with  the  adjunct  of  a layout. 
The  outer  line,  as  shown  in  the  illustration,  represents  the  outer 
edge  of  the  table,  which  is  covered  with  a green  cloth.  The 
middle  line  serves  no  special  purpose,  but  adds  one  more  strik- 
ing feature  to  the  device.  The  inner  line  serves  to  mark  off  that 
portion  of  the  table  on  which  are  depicted  the  representation  of 


the  four  jacks  found  in  every  pack  of  cards.  At  the  two  ends  of 
the  table  and  on  the  top  are  blank  spaces.  Those  at  the  ends 
are  colored — the  one  red,  and  the  other  black.  The  space  on  the 
top  is  for  the  placing  of  wagers. 

Any  number  of  persons  may  play. 

Bets  are  made  in  either  one  of  the  four  ways — on  the  red ; 
on  the  black;  on  either  jack,  or  on  any  one  of  the  four  jacks. 
In  the  two  cases  first  mentioned  the  bettor  places  his  wager  on 
the  color  which  he  selects.  If  he  wishes  to  bet  on  any  particular 
jack  (that  of  hearts,  clubs,  diamonds  or  spades),  he  lays  his 
money  on  that  one  which  he  chooses.  If  he  prefers  to  bet  that 
some  jack  (without  indicating  which)  will  win,  he  lays  his  ven- 
ture upon  the  blank  space  at  the  top  of  the  table  as  shown  in 
the  diagram. 

If  he  bets  on  the  winning  color,  the  bank  pays  him  an 
amount  equal  to  the  sum  staked,  which  latter,  of  course,  he  re- 
ceives back.  If  he  selects  a particular  jack  and  the  one  on  which 
he  has  placed  his  wager  happens  to  win,  his  stake  is  returned 
to  him,  together  with  an  increment  of  ten  times  the  amount.  If 
he  places  his  wager  on  the  blank  space  at  the  top  he  is  under- 


54 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


stood  to  have  bet  that  some  one  of  the  four  jacks  will  win,  and 
if  his  hazard  prove  successful,  his  gains  are  measured  by  a sum 
twice  that  of  his  original  bet. 

The  bets  having  all  been  made  and  placed,  the  play  com- 
mences. The  banker  places  a full  pack  (fifty-two  cards)  in  a 
dealing  box,  similar  to  those  used  in  playing  “ faro,”  which  have 
been  already  described,  but  with  this  variation : In  “ faro  ” the 
cards  are  inserted  and  dealt  face  uppermost,  the  opening  being 

large  enough  to  afford  a 
clear  view  of  the  card ; 
in  rouge  et  noir  they  are 
inserted  and  dealt  face 
downward,  and  the  aper- 
ture in  the  box  is  only 
large  enough  to  permit 
the  dealer  to  run  them 
off  readily  with  the  in- 
dex and  second  fingers  of  the  left  hand. 

The  first  two  cards,  after  being  withdrawn  from  the  box, 
are  laid  upon  the  table,- face  downward,  and  the  third  is  turned 
over.  This  constitutes  a “ run,”  and  the  gains  or  losses  of  the 
players  are  determined  by  the  color  (and  sometimes  the  de- 
nomination) of  the  third  card.  If  it  happens  to  be  the  red  the 
bank  pays  all  bets  placed  on  the  space  at  the  end  of  the  table 
marked  “ red,”  and  gathers  in  all  other  wagers  placed  upon  the  table. 
If  it  chance  to  be  a jack,  and  any  player  has  placed  his  money 
on  the  representation  of  that  particular  jack  upon  the  layout, 
the  fortunate  individual  wins  ten  times  the  amount  which  he 
ventured.  If  a player  has  bet  upon  “ jacks,”  without  naming 
any  particular  one — placing  his  money  in  the  space  at  the  top  of 
the  table — and  a jack  of  any  suit  is  turned  up,  he  is  given,  as 
his  winnings,  double  the  amount  of  his  wager. 

Even  when  fairly  played,  the  chances  in  favor  of  the  bank 
are  large  enough  to  satisfy  any  banker  whose  greed  for  gain 
is  not  abnormal.  But  as  in  all  other  games,  the  rapacious  sharks 
who  operate  it  are  not  satisfied  with  even  the  most  extraordi- 
nary percentage  of  chances.  What  they  seek  is  absolute  cer- 
tainty, and  in  the  game  of  rouge  et  noir,  as  conducted  in  even 
so-called  “ square  ” houses,  they  have  contrived  to  secure  it. 

“ Faked  ” boxes,  similar  in  construction  to  those  used  in 
“ faro,”  are  employed,  and  the  cards  are  sanded  as  in  that  game. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


55 


The  red  and  black  cards  are  placed  alternately,  so  that  when 
the  players  call  the  color  of  the  next  card,  the  dealer  knows  just 
what  it  is,  and  is  thus  in  a position  to  manipulate  the  cards  to 
his  own  advantage.  For  the  success  of  his  operations,  it  is 


necessary  that  the  cards  be  kept  in  perfect  condition,  and  for 
this  purpose  he  uses  card  presses,  as  shown  in  the  illustration. 
The  manipulation  of  the  pack  in  the  box  is  practiced  in  the 
same  way  as  has  been  already  explained  under  “ faro.”  If  the 
dealer  considers  it  necessary  to  change  the  color  before  expos- 
ing the  card  to  the  view  of  the  players,  he  just  touches  the 
spring  of  the  “ faked  ” box,  which  enables  him  to  draw  two 
cards  instead  of  one  through  the  aperture,  thus  reversing  the 
run  of  the  colors. 


DIANA  GAME. 

The  accompanying  diagram  represents  the  Diana  Game, 
which  consists  of  a handsome  layout,  and  one  dealing  box  as 


is  used  in  faro  and  rouge  et  noir,  the  difference  being  that  the 
diana  box  is  made  to  hold  two  decks  of  cards  instead  of  one. 


56 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


The  cards  are  well  shuffled  and  placed  in  the  box  face  down- 
ward ; the  dealer  then  draws  out  two  cards,  leaving  them  as 
they  came  from  the  box,  then  turns  the  third  card  face  up,  say 
deuce  of  spades,  this  means  that  low  wins,  the  black  wins,  both 
paying  even  money.  That  the  spade  suit  wins  paying  three  to 
one,  that  the  deuces  win,  paying  eight  for  one.  Vhenever  the 
dealer  turns  “ jack  ” he  takes  all  bets  excepting  those  made  on 
the  jacks,  which  also  pays  eight  for  one,  the  jacks  being  the 
dealer’s  per  cent.  Player  may  also  bet  on  any  card  he  may  wish 
to,  and  in  the  event  of  his  winning  he  receives  thirty-two  for 
one. 

The  chances  for  cheating  in  this  game  are  the  same  as  in 
faro  and  rouge  et  noir. 


THREE  CARD  MONTE. 

This  is  an  ancient  device  of  sharpers,  and  is  commonly  re- 
sorted to  by  gamblers  and  confidence  men,  who  find  their  most 
successful  field  of  operation  upon  railway  trains,  fair  grounds, 
etc.  The  game  is  played  with  three  cards,  which  are  held  by 
the  operator,  who  is  known  in  gamblers’  slang  as  the  “ spieler,” 


in  his  right  hand,  between  the  thumb  and  first  two  fingers,  the 
backs  towards  the  palm,  and  the  cards  themselves  slightlv  bend- 
ing inward.  To  work  the  trick  successfully,  some  sleight-of- 
hand  is  necessary,  to  acquire  which  considerable  practice  is 
necessary.  The  cards  are  thrown  by  the  “ spieler  ” upon  some 
flat  surface,  faces  downward.  Before  throwing  them,  he  shows 
the  bystanders  the  cards  which  he  holds  in  his  hand,  and  after 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


51 

they  have  been  thrown  he  invites  bets  as  to  the  location  of  some 
particular  card. 

To  illustrate:  he  may  hold  in  his  hand  two  aces  and  a 
queen ; these  he  shows ; he  then  places  them  in  his  right  hand, 
in  the  position  above  described,  and  throws  them  upon  the  flat 
surface,  faces  downward ; he  then  asks  some  one  to  bet  which 
is  the  queen.  The  queen  may  have  been  the  middle  of  the  three 
cards  as  they  were  held  in  his  hand,  but  it  by  no  means  follows 
that  it  will  be  the  middle  of  the  three  cards  as  they  lie  upon  the 
table. 

To  work  the  game  successfully  one  or  two  confederates  are 
necessary.  One  of  them  will  sometimes  come  forward  and  bend 
one  of  the  corners  of  the  queen  so  that  he  will  know  it  again 
after  the  cards  have  been  through  the  “ spieler’s  ” hands.  Of 
course  he  wins.  This  induces  the  bystanders  to  bet  with  cer- 
tainty, and  when  the  “ spieler  ” again  picks  up  the  cards  to 
throw  them  the  victims  stake  their  wagers.  The  operator,  how- 
ever, with  his  little  finger  dexterously  flattens  out  the  corner 
which  his  accomplice  had  bent  up  and  bends  up  the  corner  of  an 
entirely  different  card.  AA’hen  the  cards  are  next  thrown,  the 
victims  select  the  one  with  the  bent  corner,  and  are  deeply  cha- 
grined to  discover  that  it  is  not  the  one  they  believed  it  to  be. 

Probably,  the  king  of  the  monte  men  was  a man  known  in 
sporting  circles  as  “ Canada  Bill.”  He  was  recognized  as  a gen- 
eral “ all  round  confidence  operator,”  and  so  distrustful  were 
those  who  knew  him  of  appearances  which  he  put  forth  that  on 
the  occasion  of  his  funeral,  as  the  coffin  was  being  lowered  into 
the  grave,  one  of  his  friends  offered  to  bet  $1,000  to  $500  that 
“ Bill  was  not  in  the  box.”  The  offer  found  no  takers,  for  the 
reason,  as  one  of  his  acquaintances  said,  “ that  he  had  known 
Bill  to  squeeze  through  tighter  holes  than  that.”  It  was  reported 
some  years  before  his  death  that  he  had  offered  one  of  the 
Trunk  Lines  of  Railroad  a premium  of  $'25,000  per  annum  to  be 
allowed  to  practice  confidence  games  upon  its  trains  without 
molestation,  a condition  of  the  offer  being  that  he  would  not  at- 
tempt to  victimize  any  class  of  passengers  except  preachers. 

It  is  to  the  credit  of  many  of  the  railroads  that  they  have 
issued  orders  forbidding  gambling  on  any  part  of  their  propert}^ 
also  forbidding  their  employes  to  practice  gambling,  either  on 
or  off  duty. 


58 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


TIPPING  THE  HAND. 


2 13 


The  accompanying  illustration  affords  a view  of  two  “ skin 
gamblers  engaged  in  victimizing  a “ sucker  ” by  means  of  a 
trick  familiarly  known  among  the  fraternity  as  “ tipping  ” or 
“ signing  the  hand.”  Large  sums  of  money  have  been  won 
through  this  means,  not  only  from  verdant  dupes,  but  even  from 
professionals  who  prided  themselves  upon  their  astuteness.  In 
order  to  work  it- successfully,  marked  cards  are  indispensible, 
and  at  least  one  of  the  confederates,  who  act  in  unison,  must  be 
an  expert  at  the  use  of  “ paper,”  as  marked  or  “ advantage  ” 
cards  are  called  among  the  gamblers. 

The  cut  shows  the  method  in  which  the  trick  is  carried  on. 
Player  number  3 represents  the  “ sucker player  number  2 the 
swindler  who  has  induced  him  to  play  on  the  promise  of  “ tip- 
ping ” the  ” hand  ” of  number  1,  who  is  in  reality  the  partner 
of  number  2,  although,  of  course,  this  latter  fact  is  unknown  to 
number  3.  The  method  of  playing  this  nefarious  confidence 
game  may  be  best  shown  by  an  illustration.  Number  2 always 
faithfullv  signals  number  3 precisely  what  cards  are  in  the  hands 
of  number  1.  The  latter  being  an  expert  marked  card  player, 
of  course,  knows  with  absolute  certainty  what  cards  are  held  by 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


59 


number  3.  Let  us  suppose  that  number  1 holds  a pair  of  sixes 
and  number  3 a pair  of  fives.  Number  2 signals  to  number  3 
that  number  1 has  in  his  hands  a low  pair.  Number  3 is  nat- 
urally in  the  dark  as  to  whether  the  pair  in  question  is  of  a 

lower  denomination  than  his  own,  and  in  the  hope  that  it  may 

prove  to  be  makes  his  bet.  Number  1 immediately  “ raises  ” 

him,  and  this  is  continued  as  long  as  the  victim  can  be  induced 
to  wager,  or  until  number  3 has  “ staked  ” his  “ pile.”  The 
hands  being  “ shown  down,”  of  course  number  1 takes  the 
stakes. 


ROULETTE. 


Roulette,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  illustration,  is  played  upon 
a table  in  the  form  of  an  oblong  square,  covered  with  green 
cloth,  at  one  end  of  which  is  a round  cavity,  around  the  sides  of 

which,  equidistant  one  from 
the  other,  are  arranged  sev- 
eral metal  bands — usually  of 
copper  — which,  com- 
mencing at  the  top,  de- 
scend to  the  extremity  of 
the  machine.  The  cavity  is 
■^''movable,  and  in  the  center 
5,  is  a circular  bottom  con- 
taining  thirty-nine  holes  to 
which  the  bands  are  at- 
tached, and  upon  which  are 
painted  alternately,  in  black 
and  red,  thirty-six  numbers, 
running  from  1 to  36,  be- 
sides (0),  a (00),  and  a pic- 
ture of  an  eagle  or  the 
word  itself  printed  thereon. 
In  the  middle  of  the  cavity 
are  three  or  four  metal 
prongs,  centering  at  “ D ' 
which  are  used  in  imparting 
rotary  motion  to  the  bottom. 
The  revolution  of  the  ball  is 
checked  by  slender  metal 
plates  (indicated  on  the  dia- 
gram by  the  letter  ‘‘  R " ) 
about  two  inches  in  length  and 
rising  about  one-quarter  of  an 
inch  above  the  lower  surface. 

The  remainder  of  the 
table  is  laid  out  as  shown 
in  the  cut.  The  figures  are 
arranged  in  three  columns, 
and  above  them  in  two  di- 


<s> 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

4 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

IS 

16 

17 

13 

19 

20 

21 

ZZ 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

24 

3o 

3l 

32 

33 

34 

35 

36 

<3> 


60 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


61 


visions  nearest  the  roulette,  are  single  and  double  00  respec- 
tively. The  figures  are  painted  black  or  red,  to  agree  with  the 
corresponding  color  of  the  numbers  on  the  wheel.  At  the  head 
of  each  column  there  is  a compartment  for  placing  a stake  which 
is  made  on  the  column.  On  each  side  of  the  foot  of  the  columns  of 
figures  are  three  spaces,  each  of  which  contains  the  number  twelve. 
These  are  known,  respectiA'^ely,  as  the  1st,  2nd,  and  3rd  twelves. 
Stakes  placed  on  the  first  space  are  considered  to  be  bets  on 
the  numbers  1 to  12  ; the  second  space  is  for  bets  on  numbers 
13  to  24;  the  third  space  for  numbers  25  to  36,  all  inclusive. 


Bookmaker’s  Wheel. 


The  space  on  either  side  of  the  entire  length  of  the  columns 
is  divided  into  three  parts.  The  upper  left  hand  division  is  for 
bets  on  num.bers  1 to  18;  the  corresponding  right  hand  division 
is  for  numbers  19  to  36.  The  large  division  in  the  middle  of 
the  left  hand  side,  lettered  “ B ” in  the  illustration,  is  for  bets 
on  the  black ; the  similar  one  on  the  right,  marked  “ B,”  is  for 
wagers  on  the  red. 

The  lower  division  on  the  left  hand  is  for  bets  on  even 
numbers ; the  division  opposite  on  the  right  is  for  odd  numbers. 

There  is  a banker  and  several  assistants ; an  unlimited  num- 
ber of  persons  may  play. 

One  of  the  assistants  sets  the  machine  in  motion,  at 


62 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


the  same  instant  throwing  an  ivory  ball  into  the  cavity  m the 
opposite  direction  to  the  movement  which  he  has  given  to  the 
movable  bottom.  The  ball  makes  several  revolutions  with  great 
rapidity  until  its  momentum  being  exhausted,  it  falls  into  one 
of  the  thirty-nine  holes  formed  by  the  copper  bands.  It  is  the 
hole  into  which  the  ball  falls  that  determines  the  gain  or  loss 
of  the  numerous  chances  which  this  game  affords  to  players. 

If  the  reader  will  examine  the  cut  shotving  the  layout,  he 


Bookmaker’s  Wheel. 


will  perceive  that  there  are  numerous  chances  to  be  played  for: 
Single  and  double  (0)  ; the  “ eagle black  and  red ; the  three 
columns ; the  first  and  last  halt  of  the  numbers,  respectively, 
consisting  of  1 to  18,  and  19  to  36  inclusive ; the  three  12’s, 
which  consist  of  1 to  12,  13  to  24,  and  2.1  to  36;  odd  and  even; 
and  lastly,  the  numbers,  either  single  or  in  groups. 

Stakes  bet  on  black  or  red ; the  first  or  last  half  of  the  num- 
bers ; also  on  odd  and  even,  are  called  single  stakes.  Stakes  on 
either  of  the  three  12’s.  or  on  either  of  the  three  columns,  win  i 
double  the  amount.  Stakes  on  any  single  number,  or  on  either  i 
of  the  (O’s),  or  the  eagle,  are  paid  thirty-five  times  their  amount 
if  they  are  successful.  ; 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


63 


Bets  may  be  made  on  groups  of  not  over  six  consecutive 
numbers,  and  win  as  many  times  the  amount  of  the  stakes  as 
the  grouping  is  contained  in  thirty-four,  omitting  all  fractions ; 
so  that  a bet  on  any  four  designated  consecutive  numbers  would 
win  eight  times  the  amount  of  the  stake,  provided  any  one  of 
these  numbers  comes  out. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  the  space  occupied  by  thirty- 
six  numbers  are  either  red  or  black ; and  as  the  numbers  are 
equally  divided  between  the  colors  eighteen  to  each,  a stake  on 
either  color  is  a single  bet.  The  (O’s)  and  the  eagle  are  painted 


Upright  Roulette  Wheel. 

green,  and  if  a zero  or  eagle  turns  up,  bets  on  either  black  or 
red  are  lost  by  the  players. 

The  legitimate  percentage  of  chances  in  favor  of  the  bank 
in  this  game  is  enormous.  Out  of  thirty-nine  chances,  the  bank 
runs  eighteen  of  losing  and  has  twenty-one  of  winning,  or  three 
additional  chances  in  its  favor,  which  is  equivalent  to  fully  5 1-3 
per  cent,  in  favor  of  the  bank  in  all  cases,  even  where  a bet  is 
placed  upon  either  of  the  zeros  or  the  eagle.  In  the  latter  case, 
the  bet  on  either  zero  or  on  the  eagle  is  paid  35  to  1,  the  same 
as  on  any  single  number. 

Here  the  bank  has  thirty-five  chances  out  of  thirty-nine  of 
winning,  and  only  one  of  losing,  or  four  more  chances  in  its  favor 
than  the  payments  warrant,  thus  yielding  the  same  5 1-3  per 
cent. 


04 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVIGES. 


It  follows  that  the  odds  against  the  players  in  the  various 
chances  may  be  expressed  as  follows : 


LIpon  a single  number 31  to  1 

Upon  any  twelve  numbers 13  to  6 

Upon  two  numbers  18  to  1 

Upon  three  numbers  11  2-3  to  1 

Upon  four  numbers  11  to  2 

Upon  six  numbers  16  to  3 

Upon  odd  or  even,  red  or  black 10  to  9 


In  the  case  of  a bet  on  the  first  or  last  eighteen  numbers, 
the  odds  are  ten  to  nine,  the  same  as  on  odd  or  even,  or  red  or 
black. 


When,  however,  a stake  is  laid  on  all  the  numbers,  and  the 
bank  only  pays  the  winner  thirty-five  times  his  stake,  it  clears 
four ; thus,  supposing  thirty-nine  dollars  to  be  a stake,  and  that 
the  ball  is  thrown  twice  in  a minute,  the  gain  of  the  bank,  with- 
out incurring  the  slightest  risk,  would  be  eight  dollars  per 
minute,  or  $480  per  hour.  Although,  in  whatever  way  a player 
may  bet,  the  chances  are  always  in  favor  of  the  bank,  still  the 
latter’s  risk  varies  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  chances  which 
are  not  filled  up.  To  illustrate:  if  only  ten  numbers  are  filled. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


65 


and  the  ball  were  to  enter  one  of  them,  the  bank  would,  in  that 
case  lose  thirty-four  dollars,  and  only  win  eight;  whereas,  when 
all  the  numbers  are  filled,  it  wins  four  without  risking  a cent. 


New  York  Style  Roulette  Layout. 


From  what  has  been  saidj  as  to  the  chances  in  favor  of  the 
bank,  it  would  seem  to  be  hardly  necessary  to  use  any  addi- 


Western  Style  Roulette  Layout. 


tional  means  of  swindling,  inasmuch  as  the  percentage  in  its 
favor  is  so  large  that  the  game  is  very  seldom  beaten,  even 
if  “ played  on  the  square.”  An  old  gambler  once  remarked  in 


60 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


my  presence,  that  the  percentage  of  the  game  was  forty  per  cent, 
worse  than  stealing.  However,  despite  this  fact,  the  gambler 
is  not  satisfied,  and  has  succeeded  in  devising  schemes,  whereby 
he  may  win  every  bet  made  against  him  if  he  sees  fit. 

The  first  method  of  cheating  which  I will  describe,  is  as 
follows : The  roulette  is  manufactured  for  the  purpose,  the 
machinery  being  entirely  concealed  from  view.  The  gambler 
who  manages  the  game  can  cause  the  ball  (A)  to  fall  in  a 
red  or  black  number,  as  he  may  think  proper.  After  throwing 
the  ball  he  watches  it  closely,  and  if  it  should  fall  in  the  red, 
when  he  wished  it  to  go  into  the  black,  while  still  revolving,  its 
course  can  be  quickly  changed  to  the  desired  color.  This  is 
accomplished  by  means  of  a lever  attached  to  the  circular  wheel, 
and  connecting  with  one  of  the  legs  of  the  roulette.  This  leg  has 
the  same  appearance  as  others,  but  is  a trifle  shorter,  not  quite 
touching  the  table  on  which  the  roulette  rests.  The  gambler  has 
only  to  touch  this  leg  while  the  wheel  is  revolving,  and  in  a sec- 
ond the  ball  is  changed  from  one  color  to  the  other,  as  he  may 
prefer.  In  fact,  so  quickly  can  the  ball  be  changed,  that  it  is  diffi- 
cult to  detect  the  motion  after  one  has  been  shown  how  it  is 
managed,  unless  the  wheel  is  turned  slowly.  This  is  one  of  the 
most  ingenious  contrivances  in  use. 


The  Latest  Improved  Layout. 


There  is  yet  another  kind  of  roulette,  which  is  made  in  the 
following  manner : One-half  of  the  small  pieces  of  metal  which 
form  the  pockets  for  the  ball  are  made  a trifle  longer  than  the 
others  lettered  on  the  diagram  E,  E,  E.  After  the  stakes  have 
been  placed,  if  the  proprietor  wishes  the  ball  to  fall  into  a red 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


67 


color,  it  is  necessary  for  him  merely  to  throw  the  ball  around 
to  the  right  hand,  and  if  he  wishes  it  to  fall  into  the  black,  he 
casts  the  ball  toward  the  left.  The  players  may  observe  that  he 
throws  the  ball  in  a different  direction  on  different  occasions, 
but  no  suspicion  is  aroused  as  the  action  appears  to  be  so  trivial. 

Another  fraudulent  contrivance  used  in  playing  this  game 
consists  in  the  gambler  having  two  centers  to  a wheel,  appar- 
ently identical,  one  of  which,  however,  is  “ square  ” and  the 
other  “ faked.”  This  device  is  known  to  the  members  of  “ the 
profession  ” as  the  “ double  center.”  The  “ square  ” wheel  is 
used  at  first,  and,  at  an  opportune  moment,  the  “ fake  ” is  sub- 
stituted, after  which  the  sharper  has  everything  his  own  way. 
This  wheel  is  operated  on  very  much  the  same  principle  as  the 
“ needle  wheel,”  for  the  construction  of  which  the  reader  is  re- 
ferred to  the  page  containing  a description  of  that  device.  A 
system  of  levers  radiating  from  the  center  of  the  apparatus  is 
operated  by  a rod  terminating  at  the  edge  of  the  table.  By 
bringing  to  bear  the  requisite  pressure,  these  levers  cause  fine 
needle  points  (lettered  C,  C,  C,  on  the  diagram)  to  rise  through 
the  cloth,  one  coming  up  in  front  of  each  alternate  compartment 


Miniature  Roulette  Wheel. 


on  the  rim,  thus  obstructing  the  entry  of  the  ball  and  causing  its 
course  to  be  so  changed  that  it  shall  fall  into  one  of  the  next  ad- 
jacent divisions,  as  in  the  case  of  the  “ needle  wheel  ” above 
referred  to. 

It  is  easily  perceived  that  the  players  can  have  no  possible 
chance  when  playing  against  such  roulettes  as  these,  and  there 
is  a large  number  of  them  in  use  all  over  the  country. 


68 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


Electricity  is  now  the  popular  method  of  controlling  the 
larger  roulette  wheels.  The  electricity  is  often  attached  by  pla- 
cing the  battery  down  in  the  cellar,  and  running  the  wire 
through  one  of  the  legs.  It  in  no  way  affects  the  outward  ap- 
pearance of  the  wheel,  but,  as  previously  explained,  all  controlled 
wheels  give  the  house  an  enormous  advantage  over  the 
“ sucker.”  These  electrical  attachments  can  be  purchased  from 
$50  up. 

It  is  A^ery  difficult  to  detect  when  a wheel  is  made  crooked 
by  means  of  the  electrical  apparatus.  Should  the  reader  ever 
happen  to  be  in  a place  where  a roulette  wheel  is  running,  and 
you  have  a good  pocket  compass  in  your  possession,  just  take 
and  hold  it  over  the  wheel  when  it  is  running;  if  the  electricity 
is  applied,  you  will  see  the  needle  of  the  compass  swing  around. 
Of  course  you  must  hold  the  compass  in  such  a manner  that  no 
one  suspects  what  you  are  doing. 

Within  the  last  few  years  enormous  sums  of  money  have 
been  lost  at  the  gambling  houses  where  the  electric  wheel  is 
in  use.  The  large  cities  such  as  New  York,  Chicago,  San  Eran- 
cisco,  etc.,  have  several  of  these  appliances  in  their  gambling 
houses. 

At  the  notorious  Rothstein  gambling  house  in  West  46th 
.Street,  New  York,  3’oung  Gates  lost  the  sum  of  $40,000  in  one  ses- 
sion at  roulette  and  faro,  but  principally  at  roulette.  During  all 
the  various  spasms  of  virtue  that  has  overcome  New  York,  this 
house  has  remained  open,  in  spite  of  the  rigid  investigations 
that  have  been  made.  A man  by  the  name  of  Shea  was  Roth- 
stein’s  partner  at  this  time.  The  night  Gates  visited  this  house, 
the  two  partners  made  the  entertainment  so  cordial  and  inter- 
esting that  before  he  was  ready  to  depart,  and  long  after  the 
banks  were  open,  he  had  left  his  check  with  Shea,  for  the  sum 
of  .$40,000.  The  gamblers  were  loath  to  part  with  him,  but  the 
time  comes  when  ” the  best  of  friends  must  part,”  even  should 
the  “ best  friend  ” be  the  hard  cash. 

The  gamblers  being  a little  suspicious  lest  their  guest 
should  find  cause  to  complain  of  their  hospitality,  it  was  decided 
that  Shea  should  accompany  Gates  to  the  bank  Avhere  the  check 
was  cashed. 

Unfortunately  for  Rothstein,  Shea  failed  to  return  to  the 
house  on  46th  Street,  deciding  it  was  unnecessary,  as  he  had  in- 
tended to  keep  the  entire  roll  for  his  own  personal  use. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


69 


When  Rothstein  finally  located  his  former  partner,  he  de- 
manded an  explanation  and  an  accounting. 

The  partners  failing  to  agree  caused  the  whole  incident  to 
come  to  light. 


Miniature  Book-maker’s  Roulette  Wheel,  with  Layout. 


There  are  a number  of  gamblers  who  feel  they  have  a sort 
of  a roving  commission  to  prey  upon  the  unwary  public,  at  will. 
It  being  impossible  for  them  to  carry  large  machinery  about 
with  them,  for  more  reasons  than  one,  pocket  editions  have  been 
ingeniously  devised  for  their  accommodation. 


70 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


These  outfits  are  not  toys,  but  are  perfect  wheels  and  fac- 
similes to  the  larger  wheels.  They  are  used  very  largely  on 
fair  grounds,  race  tracks,  steamers  and  hotels.  The  cigar  stores 
and  saloons  are  also  introducing  these  machines,  as  they  are 
easily  handled,  and  can  therefore  be  put  out  of  sight  ‘‘  when 
necessary.” 

The  device  shown  in  the  illustration  on  preceding  page,  can 
be  run  in  many  ways.  It  may  run  as  roulette,  red  and  black, 
also  as  a paddle  wheel  for  raffles.  It  is  claimed  to  be  a great 
stimulator.  Yes,  it  stimulates  the  “ sucker  ” to  throw  away  his 
week’s  wages  upon  it. 

This  wheel  is  made  specially  for  men  on  the  road.  It  cannot 


The  New  Book-maker  Wheel. 


get  out  of  order  and  has  a strong  per  cent,  in  favor  of  the  game 
keeper,  and  is  said  to  always  get  a play.  The  glowing  descrip- 
tions sent  out  by  the  manufacturers  would  try  to  lead  one  to 
believe  that  it  is  the  only  machine  that  is  sure  of  getting  a play,  j 
But  then,  of  course,  they  say  the  same  about  all  other  machines,  j 
It  all  depends  upon  the  machine  a person  may  be  particularly  in-  i 
terested  in.  i 

It  reminds  me  somewhat  of  a doctor.  Avho  always  tried  to  | 
please  his  patients.  He’  never  failed  to  ask  the  patient  if  he 
took  intoxicating  liquors.  If  the  answer  was  in  the  afifirmative.  i 
he  Avould  invariably  tell  them  to  regulate  the  quantity;  but  if  the 
answer  rvas  in  the  negative,  he  Avould  tell  them  it  was  all  in 
their  favor,  and  it  Avould  be  well  for  them  to  let  it  alone. 

The  cut  shows  this  Avheel  as  a red  and  black  wheel,  also  as 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


n 


a chuck-a-luck  wheel,  being  two  distinct  and  different  games  in 
one,  and  can  be  run  as  either  game  or  both. 

It  is  sometimes  made  as  a roulette  wheel,  or  a crap  wheel,  or 
as  a book-maker’s  wheel  (five  horses).  Electrical  control  is  also 
furnished  if  desired.  In  fact,  the  gambler  can  be  accommodated 
in  any  way  he  desires. 

This  machine  is  made  of  aluminum,  weighs  only  six  ounces, 
and  is  three  and  a half  inches  in  diameter.  At  first  sight  it  would 


Pocket  Roulette  Wheel 


(“Another  New  One”). 


appear  to  the  uninitiated  a nice  little  toy.  It  looks  simple,  but 
is  not  so  simple  as  it  looks.  Unfortunately,  the  young  boys  are 
usually  the  victims  of  this  machine.  It  is  the  introduction  to 
some  bigger  game.  They  play  their  pocket  money  against  this 
device,  which,  of  course,  they  lose,  and  then  wonder  where  it  has 
all  gone  to.  It  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  see  boys  who  are  just  en- 
tering upon  manhood,  and  who  think  they  are  a little  too  old  to  be 
tied  to  mother’s  apron  strings,  hanging  around  the  cigar  stands, 
looking  for  a little  fun.  They  have  contracted  the  habit  of 
smoking,  thinking  it  necessary  to  their  rising  manhood.  The 
man  behind  the  cigar  stand  will  often  find  an  opportunity  to  in- 
troduce such  a device  as  mentioned  above.  Of  course  he  does 
not  keep  it  on  exhibition  ©n  the  counter,  but  introduces  it  in 
such  a manner  as  to  excite  curiosity  among  the  boys.  He  loses 


72 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


to  the  boys  at  first,  and  this  being  successful  in  stimulating  their 
desire  to  win  more,  and  having  won  their  confidence,  he  then 
commences  to  win  for  himself.  I want  the  boys  of  this  country 
to  remember  that  the  other  fellow  is  not  there  for  fun,  but  to 
steal  all  he  can.  If  he  cannot  get  the  cash  by  fair  means,  he  will 
by  foul  means.  I will  ask  the  reader  to  kindly  excuse  a little  di- 
gression here.  Although  I was  a gambler  for  twenty-five  years, 
much  to  my  present  shame  and  sorrow,  I am  thankful  to  say 
that  I have  never  tasted  a drop  of  intoxicating  liquor,  or  used 
a piece  of  tobacco  in  my  life. 

This  is  another  crooked  device  made  to  catch  the  unwary. 
The  operator  can  win  at  will,  absolutely  sure.  He  can  either 


The  Xew  Game  Round  Table  Roulette. 


bank  and  win  or  play  against  the  game  and  win.  It  can  be  made 
as  a ••  represent  joint,”  that  is,  a double-up  system,  which  is  the 
quickest  way  of  getting  the  monev. 

As  a roulette  wheel  it  is  played  as  follows: 

1.  Each  player  banks  until  the  ball  falls  into  0 or  00  (tvhich 
is  the  bank’s  percentage!. 

2.  The  bank  then  passes  to  the  player  to  the  right,  and 
so  on  until  all  the  players  have  had  a bank. 

3.  If  the  one  banking  should  be  behind  on  his  bank  he  has 
the  privilege  of  continuing. 

Rates:  1 number  pays  3.i  for  1;  2 numbers  pav  IT  for  1; 
3 numbers  pay  11  for  1;  4 numbers  pay  8 for  1;  6 numbers  pav 
5 for  1 ; 12  numbers  pay  2 for  1. 

The  dial  of  the  roulette  Avatch  is  an  exact  representation 
of  the  regulation  roulette  Avheel. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVIGES. 


The  W atch  horse  race  game  consists  of  eight  horses  repre- 
sented on  the  dial,  but  there  are  no  jockeys  to  pull  the  horses,  un- 
less it  is  the  one  who  operates  the  game.  He  has  thoroughly 
learned  the  art  of  “ fixing  ” the  race. 


The  Roulette  Watch. 


Horse  Race  Game. 


These  devices  are  very  cunningly  contrived,  and  although 
small,  big  money  is  sometimes  put  up  on  the  play. 


SOCIAL  CARD  PLAYING:  THE  KINDERGARTEN  TO 
THE  GAMBLING  HELL. 

Social  card  playing  in  the  home  has  been  the  cause  of 
much  misery  to  hundreds  of  thousands  of  souls.  The  seeminglv 
harmless  bit  of  pasteboard  has  wrought  the  destruction  and  dam- 
nation of  many  precious  souls  and  the  ruination  of  many  homes. 
It  is  the  curse  of  many  churches  not  only  in  America,  but  in  al- 
most every  civilized  country.  Civilization  does  not  always  dis- 
pense with  moral  evils,  but  in  many  instances  cultivates  them 

Charles  G.  Leland,  of  England,  says:  “ It  is  humiliating  to 
reflect  that  while  the  IMohammedan  religion  has  successfullv 
repressed  gambling,  Christianity  has  witnessed  its  worst  ex- 
cesses.” 

One  of  the  greatest  arguments  used  in  “ society  ” in  favor 
of  card  playing  is  that  it  “kills  time.”  AA'hat  an  excuse!  This 
surely  must  be  born  of  the  low  mind  and  the  watered  brain.  To 
kill  time — the  most  precious  thing  that  God  has  given  us — is  to 
defeat  the  Divine  purposes  of  God.  It  cannot  be  classed  as  recre- 
ation, neither  can  it  be  called  a legitimate  game  of  skill,  for 
the  element  of  chance  is  so  great  that  success  depends  almost 
entirely  upon  the  cards  held  in  the  hand.  Time  spent  in  this 
manner  cannot  be  recalled.  The  regret  of  many  good  people  is 
that  the}'  have  not  sufficient  time  to  accomplish  all  the  good 
their  hearts  desire,  while  on  the  other  hand  there  are  multitudes 
who  have  no  direct  purpose  in  life  except  it  be  to  gratify  their 
own  selfish  pleasures. 

I have  previously  stated  that  out  of  six  boys  in  my  family 
five  of  them  became  professional  gamblers.  Card  playing  was 
freely  indulged  in.  ^^dlile  children  are  young  parents  are  re- 
sponsible for  their  actions.  The  parent  who  trains  his  child  in 
the  right  paths  is  greater  than  he  who  commands  a great  army. 
The  home  is  the  most  sacred  place  of  all.  ^ly  father  loved  his 
children  but  never  realized  the  danger  in  social  card  plaA'ing  un- 
til it  was  too  late.  INIy  mother,  at  all  times,  bitterh'  opposed 
card  playing  in  our  home,  or  an}’where.  Had  I never  learned  to 

74 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


75 


play  cards  at  home  I might  have  lived  an  honorable  life  all  the 
way  through.  Not  one  of  our  boys  had  a profession. 

Social  card  playing  soon  loses  its  attractiveness  unless  some 
stake  is  played  for.  Boys  will  often  be  found  sneaking  off  to 
some  quiet  spot  where  they  can  play  penny-ante.  It  gives  zest 
to  the  play.  This  inculcates  the  desire  to  obtain  money  easily 
and  to  get  it  away  from  the  other  fellow.  If  men  want  to  play 
for  stakes  they  will  usually  find  their  way  to  the  poker  room. 
Wmen  will  meet  in  their  parlors  and  indulge  freely  in  bridge- 
whist,  euchre,  etc.,  while  their  husbands  are  busily  engaged  in 
the  battle  of  life  seeking  to  earn  the  means  of  sustenance. 

It  is  unfortunate  that  many  church  members  indulge  in 
social  card  playing  for  prizes.  The  stakes  are  sometimes  so  high 
that  they  even  stagger  professional  gamblers.  A few  years  ago 
the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Nevada  passed  a law  prohibiting 
gambling  at  bridge-whist  and  poker,  under  a penalty  of  six 
months’  imprisonment. 

While  I was  lecturing  in  Chicago  some  years  ago,  a case 
came  under  my  notice  wherein  a wealthy  widow,  who  was  an 

active  member  of  the  Church,  began  to  play  cards  in  a 

women’s  club  where  the  stakes  played  for  were  usually  pianos, 
watches,  diamonds,  etc.  On  one  occasion  it  was  suggested  that 
poker  be  played  instead  of  bridge-whist.  The  money  was  placed 
on  the  table  and  this  woman  lost  $15,000  that  same  evening. 

The  pastor  of  the  church  employed  Matt.  W.  Pinkerton  to 
investigate.  Mr.  Pinkerton  prevailed  upon  her  to  come  to  one 
of  my  lectures  on  social  card  playing.  After  the  lecture  she  came 
to  the  platform  and  invited  me  to  call  upon  her  at  her  home. 
When  we  called  upon  her  she  told  us  that  she  was  satisfied  that 
she  had  been  swindled  out  of  her  money,  for  every  time  she 
would  hold  a good  hand  it  would  be  beaten.  She  said  it  was  nice 
to  shuffle  cards  and  win  money.  “ Yes,”  Mr.  Pinkerton  said, 
“ but  it  is  not  so  nice  when  you  lose  and  become  flushed  with  the 
excitement  and  pathetic  with  the  misery  of  defeat.  Then  comes 
bottles  of  wine.  The  rest  is  easily  told.  Too  often,  alas,  are 
losses  at  cards  paid  with  honor.”  The  tears  flowed  freely  over 
her  cheeks.  I said  to  her,  “ Madam,  in  Wheeling,  AVest  Virginia, 
a lovely  young  woman  formed  the  acquaintance  of  a commercial 
traveller,  who  was  a gambler.  They  first  met  at  a social  card 
party.  Becoming  quite  familiar  with  each  other,  they  were  to 
be  seen  frequently  at  whist  drives,  dances,  theatres,  and  other 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICEs!^ 


7n 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


77 


forms  of  amusement.  Finally  the  gambler  induced  her  to  go  to 
Chicago.  After  a few  weeks  she  wrote  to  her  sister  to  come  on 
to  Chicago.  In  a short  time  the  sisters  were  walking  the  streets 
of  Chicago  in  search  of  men  with  full  pocket  books,  while  poor 
old  mother  and  father  were  at  home  broken  hearted.”  Before 
leaving  her  house  the  widow  signed  the  anti-gambling  pledge, 
and  she  later  resumed  her  active  work  in  the  church. 

There  are  many  women’s  clubs  in  existence  to-day  where 
the  members  each  pay  the  small  sum  of  ten  cents  weekly.  This 
money  is  devoted  to  the  purchase  of  prizes,  and  are  played  for 
each  week.  I have  unimpeachable  evidence  that  many  of  these 


women  are  Sabbath  school  teachers,  church  workers,  etc.  I 
have  before  me,  while  writing  this,  the  notice  showing  that  a 
certain  man  (who  is  a trustee  of  a certain  reform  league)  and 
his  wife,  with  others,  acted  as  host  and  hostess  to  a military 
euchre  party,  where  prizes  were  distributed  to  the  winners. 

If  we  sow  cards  we  shall  reap  gamblers. 

The  Rev.  W.  A.  Sunday,  the  evangelist,  has  the  following 
to  say;  “ IMen  who  have  been  spending  their  funds  and  lives 
to  ferret  these  things  out  tell  us  that  nine-tenths  of  the  gamblers 
are  taught  in  their  homes  by  their  mothers. 

“ The  Chicago  Civic  Federation  which  was  forced  into  ex- 
istence at  the  close  of  the  World’s  Fair  because  after  the  fair  was 
over  Chicago  was  the  Mecca  for  gamblers,  found  that  out  of 
3,?00  gamblers  nine-tenths  had  learned  in  their  homes,  and  eight 
out  of  ten  in  the  homes  of  professing  Christian  parents. 


78 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


“ I tell  you  it  takes  a woman  with  more  than  ordinaiu^  brass 
to  stand  up  and  defend  these  things. 

“ A man  in  Chicago  in  the  Methodist  church  was  going 
around  the  country  visiting  prisons  and  a woman  came  to  him 
and  said,  ‘ You  are  going  to  Auburn  penitentiary;  will  you  take 
this  and  give  it  to  my  son  ?’  She  handed  him  a photograph  Avith 
her  name  written  on  the  bottom,  with  the  words : ‘ With  love, 
Mother.’ 

“ When  he  reached  the  prison  he  saw  the  young  man  and 
handed  him  the  picture  and  said,  ‘ I saw  your  mother  and  she 
asked  me  to  bring  you  this  picture.’  He  looked  at  it  and  said, 
‘ That  is  mother.  There  are  wrinkles  in  her  face,  not  there  the 
last  time  I saw  her.’  ‘ Yes,  your  mother  is  aging  fast.’  The 
young  man  said,  ‘ You  take  that  picture  back  and  give  it  to 

Mother,  and  tell  her,  her ! I never  Avant  to  see  her.  She 

taught  me  to  play  cards  and  I killed  a man  at  a gambling  table, 
and  am  serving  fifteen  years  to  pay  for  it.  Noav  she  has  the 
audacity  to  send  me  her  picture  after  she  pushed  me  behind  the 
prison  bars.’ 

“ You  will  say  this  is  incredible,  but  it  actually  occurred. 

“ I say  it  may  not  injure  you,  but  it  is  damning  others. 

“ They  are  just  as  much  degenerate  black-leg  gamblers  as 
the  gambler  in  the  gambling  hell.  They  ought  to  be  put  in  the 
calaboose  Avith  the  rest  of  the  gamblers. 

“ I have  just  as  much  respect  for  the  old  gambler  Avho  Avill 
bet  his  last  sou  as  for  the  Avomen  AAdio  Avill  sit  around  in  their 
homes  and  play  cards  for  prizes. 

“ You  liaA’e  no  right  to  find  fault  AAuth  the  city  officials  AA'hen 
they^  don’t  suppress  gambling  Avhen  a thing  so  near  akin  to  it  is 
carried  on  right  in  your  OAvn  home. 

“ I believe  that  society  as  it  is  constituted  to-day  is  doing 
more  to  damn  the  spiritual  life  of  the  church  than  the  grog  shops. 

“ My  friends,  more  people  backslide  on  the  social  side  than 
on  anything  else  that  I can  think  of. 

“ A seeiuingly  estimable  Avoman  Avill  tear  and  snort  and 
pout  an  afternoon,  Avhat  for?  So  she  can  take  home  a dinky 
cream  pitcher  or  AAdiisk  broom. 

“ There  is  nothing  so  tame  as  to  ask  a felloAV  to  play  cards 
for  the  fun  of  it. 

“ It  does  not  make  any  difference  Avhether  it  is  a penny-ante 
or  a sky  limit.  So  we  haA'-e  progressiA^e  euchre,  and  lots  of 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


79 


church  members  have  cards  on  their  tables  as  often  as  food,  and 
they  are  progressing  to  hell. 

“ In  a town  where  I was  preaching  they  had  all  the  parties 
to  get  them  off  their  hands  before  I came.  They  had  a big  affair 
and  the  prize  was  a $20  cut  glass  dish,  and  a woman  worked  and 
sweat,  and  lied  and  cheated,  and  took  progressions  which  she 
didn’t  win  and  then  she  lost  the  dish  by  two  points. 

“ She  was  sick  in  bed  for  two  days.  Now  listen!  Her  boy, 
a nice  bright  fellow,  came  in  one  morning  and  kissed  her  and 
said,  ‘ Here,  ma,  here  is  a $20  -gold  piece ; take  that  and  go 
down  to  the  jeweler’s  and  get  a cut  glass  dish  like  that  prize. 
I won  this  up  at  Richardson’s  last  night.’  She  said,  ‘ My  boy ! 
I take  a $20  gold  piece  that  you  won  at  gambling  to  buy  a cut 
glass  dish?’ 

“ He  told  her  that  it  was  just  the  same  to  buy  a prize  with 
the  $20  won  at  gambling  as  to  win  the  prize. 

“ She  said  to  me  afterwards,  ‘ I was  just  as  low  down  as 
that  man  Richardson  was,  whom  I looked  at  with  horror.’ 

“You  are  as  low  down  as  the  gambler. 

“ But  some  woman  says,  ‘ IMr.  Sunday,  I am  teaching  my 
boy  to  play  cards  so  that  when  he  grows  up  he  won’t  have  to 
play  cards.’ 

“ I have  heard  that ; but  say,  why  don’t  you  send  your 
daughter  to  live  in  a brothel  so  that  she  won’t  want  to  be  a 
prostitute  when  she  grows  up?  You  are  a fool  and  a jackass 
to  talk  that  way.  Your  argument  won’t  hold  water  three 
minutes. 

“ I don’t  care  who  you  are,  there  is  only  one  thing  to  do,  and 
that  is  to  go  and  throw  every  card  that  you  have  into  the  furnace 
and  get  rid  of  the  thing. 

“ But  fortunately  or  unfortunately,  we  are  made  up  of  many 
families.  If  you  are  lax  in  the  care  of  your  children,  you  make  it 
that  much  harder  for  me  to  take  care  of  mine.” 

I am  heartily  in  accord  with  what  Mr.  Sunday  has  to  say 
on  the  evils  of  social  card  playing.  It  would  be  better  if  the 
ministers  of  the  Gospel  would  take  a bold  stand  on  the  right 
side  of  this  question. 

At  the  last  General  Conference  of  the  IMethodist  Episcopal 
Church  there  were  quite  a number  desirous  of  eliminating  the 
paragraph  from  the  general  rules  forbidding  card  playing  among 
its  members.  When  the  vote  was  taken  it  was  found  that  there 


80 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


was  still  a majority  in  favor  of  retaining  it.  Should  this  para- 
graph ever  be  eliminated,  it  will  prove  the  biggest  disgrace  ever 
offered  that  section  of  the  Christian  church,  and  they  must  lose 
all  legal  claim  to  the  name  of  “ IMethodist.”  It  is  none  of  the 
business  of  the  church  to  make  the  teachings  of  Jesus  Christ 
conform  to  the  desires  of  the  flesh,  but  to  endeavor  to  win  the 
world  so  that  it  will  conform  to  the  teachings  of  Jesus  Christ. 

At  a recent  social  gathering  in  the  parlors  of  one  of  the 
“ elite,”  after  the  card  games  had  been  dispensed  with,  the 
hostess  handed  round  a concoction  known  as  grape-juice.  When 
the  ladies  ( ?)  left  for  their  homes  it  was  discovered  that 
although  they  were  all  in  a hilarious  mood  they  had 
great  difficulty  in  getting  there.  This  occurrence  was  only  one 
of  many. 

Rev.  C.  AV.  Recard,  pastor,  L^nited  Brethren  Church,  Canton, 
Ohio,  in  describing  gambling  as  the  “ cancer  crime  of  Canton,” 
said,  “ Gambling  is  the  bottomless  pit  among  the  slime  holes 
and  its  mouth  is  open  in  Canton.  The  city  is  known  among  the 
good  and  wise  to  the  ends  of 
the  earth  as  the  home  of  AIc- 
Kinley.  It  is  also  known  in  a 
great  circle  of  shysters  whose 
fingers  are  always  pointing  to 
the  purses  of  others.  To  these 
it  is  known  as  a safe  retreat 
and  a fat  pasture.  Gambling  is 
the  pit  from  which  many  other 
contagions  spread  and  to  stop 
it  the  place  to  begin  is  in  the 
church.  There  is  now  a preva- 
lent contagion  among  nominal 
Christian  people  for  cards.  I 
serve  notice  upon  the  members 
of  the  gentler  sex  that  in  the 
present  crusade  of  the  icono- 
clasts not  onl}^  their  rvares  but 
their  reputations  may  go  to 
smash.  At  a recent  card  party 
a woman  who  had  won  almost 
a whole  set  of  china  lost  the  last  piece  through  the  cheating  of 
another  woman  and  became  so  angry  that  she  remained  awake 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


81 


I all  night  thinking  about  it.  To  fill  the  slime  pits  and  drive  away 
the  diggers  we  must  go  to  work  in  the  house  of  God.” 

Every  leader  in  social  and  moral  reform  looks  upon  the 
card  table  as  the  starting  place  for  the  gambler’s  hell.  Parlor 
games  for  money  or  prizes  has  proved  the  moral  hell-place  to 
thousands  of  precious  souls.  To  this,  weeping  wives  and 
broken-hearted  mothers  can  bitterly  testify.  Let  anyone,  if  they 
, dare,  who  possesses  just  one  spark  of  Christianity,  before  going 
into  a game  for  a prize  kneel  down  and  say,  “ Blessed  Jesus,  my 
I Saviour,  who  is  able  and  willing  to  keep  our  hearts  from  all 
sin,  gambling,  drinking,  licentiousness,  covetousness,  and  de- 
j frauding  or  oppressing  our  neighbor,  please  give  me  the  winning 
I hand,  for  Christ’s  sake.  Amen.” 

If  fathers  and  mothers  who  are  indulging  their  children  in 
i gambling  at  home,  knew  the  wail  of  hopeless  misery  which  has 
! been  sounded  upon  my  ear  during  the  last  twenty-six  years, 
this  subject  would  appeal  to  them  as  being  one  of  the  most  seri- 
ous. If  the  names  of  all  the  young  people  who  have  been  ruined 
by  social  card  playing  were  written  upon  cards,  thousands  of 
packs  would  be  signed  across  with  the  blood-stained  autographs 
of  doomed  souls. 

Professing  Christians ; God  pity  them  who  make  of  the 
painted  paste-board  a social  snare  in  their  homes  to  lure  their 
precious  boys  to  the  fatal  slaughter-house  where  they  murder 
souls.  Hell’s  utmost  anguish  surely  has  no  deeper  depths  than 
that  of  the  father  and  mother  who  see  their  sons  degraded  sod- 
den gamesters,  and  remember  that  they  taught  them  to  handle 
the  implements  of  their  ruin  in  their  own  homes. 


6 


82 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


THE  UPWARD  WAY. 


2.  The  Church  has  a 
place  in  the  young  man's  life. 
He  must  be  devout  in  his  at- 
titude toward  God  as  well  as 
being  just  in  his  attitude  to- 
ward his  fellowmen. 


1.  The  illustration  here 
shows  the  young  man  being 
raised  in  a pious  home.  The 
father  is  in  the  attitude  of 
reading,  seeking  to  obtain 
knowledge  and  improve  the 
intellect,  and  so  become  use- 
ful members  of  society. 


3.  Healthy  recreation  is 
good  for  both  mind  and  bodv. 
Physical  fitness  is  necessarv 
to  success  and  happiness  in 
life.  Legitimate  pleasure  was 
never  intended  to  be  denied  us 
by  God. 

4.  The  ■ first  work  given 
man  was  to  till  the  soil.  Do 
not  be  too  anxious  to  leave  the 
pure  air  of  the  country  to  seek 
the  foul  atmosphere  of  the 
city.  Honest  toil  is  commend- 
able to  all.  Do  not  try  to  live 
by  your  wits. 

■j.  In  the  eventide  of  life 
if  you  have  followed  a straight 
course  and  not  abused  nature, 
you  may  have  the  good-will  of 
your  fellowmen  and  the  satis- 
faction of  peace  with  God. 
Your  home  will  be  a place  of 
love  and  joy. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


83 


! THE  DOWNWARD  WAY. 

'j 

j 1.  In  this  home  social 
ij  card  playing  takes  a predomi- 
j nant  place.  It  is  the  kinder- 
garten for  the  gambling  house 
! and  hell.  It  is  the  serpent 
i that  trails  you  all  through  life, 
t 

2.  The  young  man  hav- 
I ing  commenced  dissipation  at 

home,  he  goes  further  afield 
I and  seeks  pleasure  in  the  sa- 
loon. He  plays  cards  for 
drinks,  probably  the  first  time 
he  ever  played  for  a stake. 

3.  From  the  saloon  he 
i is  enticed  into  the  gambling 

house.  In  connection  with 
j this  he  will  soon  take  to  other 
forms  of  vice,  each  more  vi- 
cious than  the  last,  until  he 
becomes  a complete  physical 
wreck. 

4.  To  regain  his  losses 
at  the  gaming  table  he  will 
often  resort  to  some  form  of 
crime  against  his  fellowmen 
and — God.  In  prison  he  is 
left  to  “ think  upon  his  ways.” 

5.  The  time  comes  when 
he  may  again  be  thrown  upon 
the  world.  Without  home, 
love  and  joy,  he  seeks  a liveli- 
hood at  the  back  doors  by 
taking  odd  jobs  of  sawing 
wood.  He  might  have  been  a 
respectable  member  of  society, 
but, — 


GAMBLING  AT  WIESBADEN. 


\^"hen  gambling  was  in  the  ascendant  at  Wiesbaden,  society 
there  was  in  a very  mixed  and  deplorable  state.  The  fast  were 
in  full  possession,  almost,  and  respectable  women  dare  not  take 
a stroll  in  the  grounds  outside  the  Cure  Hall.  AVhen  gambling, 
with  “ hideous  mein,”  stalked  through  this  fair  scene,  the  aged, 
broken  down  courtesans  of  Paris,  Vienna  and  Berlin  madeAA’ies- 
baden  their  autumn  rendezvous. 

In  all  the  world  cannot  be  found  an  inland  watering  place  so 
charming  as  Baden.  The  climate  is  invigorating,  from  every 
point  of  view,  exceedingly  beautiful.  Situated  on  the  confines  of 
the  “ Black  Forest,”  in  the  beautiful  valley  Olebach.  and  sur- 
rounded by  green  and  graceful  hills,  Baden  resembles  both 
Heidelberg  and  Freiburg,  but  is  more  lovely  than  either. 

The  gambling  rooms  at  Baden  usually  had  six  roulette  and 
rouge-et-noir  (trente-et-quarante)  tables  running.  The  games 
opened  daily  at  eleven  o’clock  in  the  morning,  and  ran  continu- 
ously until  eleven  o’clock  at  night.  The  place  was  almost  as 
public  as  the  street.  Everybody  went  in  or  out.  played  or  re- 
frained from  playing,  as  he  pleased.  No  attache  of  the  estab- 
lishment was  ever  known  to  ask  any  one,  even  in  the  most  in- 
direct manner,  to  take  part  in  the  game. 

The  Directors  paid  a license  of  $i'5.000  a year  and  paid  out 
as  much  more  for  the  running  expenses  of  the  establishment,  yet 
reaped  immense  profit.  The  season  extended  from  Alay  until 
October  and  was  at  its  height  from  the  middle  of  July  until  the 
first  of  September. 

A trar^eller,  visiting  the  Cure  Hall,  witnessed  the  following*: 

“ Almost  immediately  on  our  entrance  our  attention  was 
attracted  to  a young  Englishman,  fashionably  dressed,  but  yet 
of  such  rakish  and  sinister  aspect  that  I set  him  down  at  once 
as  a black-leg  who  had  figured  at  Epsom  or  Newmarket;  a Lon- 
don roue,  who,  having  lost  character  and  means  at  home,  now 
formed  one  of  that  base  band  of  English  sharpers  who  are  to  be 
found  on  the  continent,  and  who  initiate  our  young  bloods  into 
the  mysteries  of  the  gambling  tables,  or  fleece  them  at  private 
gaming  parties.  In  eager  excitement  this  person  pressed 

84 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


85 


: through  the  crowd,  and,  bending  over  the  table,  repeatedly  de- 
posited a handful  of  silver  florins,  until  nearly  every  yellow  line 
I or  space  had  a stake  place  upon  it.  It  seemed  as  if  he  had  set 
; his  life  upon  the  cast  and  was  resolved  to  take  the  bank  by 
storm.  Within  a few  minutes,  however,  his  entire  cash  was  lost, 
and  as  the  croupiers  remorselessly  gathered  it  in  with  their 
little  rakes,  he  turned  abruptly  away. 

“ But  whose  are  the  small  gloved  hands  and  rounded  arms 
which,  just  at  my  left,  are  suddenly  thrust  forward  to  obtain 
! silver  for  the  Napoleon  d’or  which  she  gives  to  the  markers?  I 
look  around  and  see  an  elegantly  dressed  Erench  lady  standing 
at  my  side.  She  cautiously  deposits  one  or  two  florins  on  the 


Gambling  Saloon  at  Wiesbaden. 


board,  and  with  subdued  excitement  watches  the  progress  of 
the  game.  At  length  the  silver  pieces  are  all  staked  and  lost. 
Now,  with  gloved  hand,  she  unfastens  the  string  of  her  purse 
and  other  gold  is  produced  and  changed,  until  all  is  gone,  and 
she,  too,  suddenly  disappears. 

“ The  game  has  progressed  but  a few  minutes  when  our 
countryman  returns  and  proceeds  as  before,  with  the  same  re- 
sult, and  then  disappears  again.  Now,  here  is  also  the  Erench 
lady  again,  with  her  silk  purse  containing  gold  pieces,  and  play- 
ing with  greater  excitement  than  ever ; but  after  some  winnings, 
she,  too,  loses  all. 

“ Yonder  stands  a tall,  thin  lady,  who  seeks  the  table  on 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


SG 

which  small  sums  can  be  played.  See  how  anxiously  she  glances 
over  the  table,  and  how  cautiously  she  deposits  her  little  sum.. 
Once  or  twice  she  wins,  and  her  pale  cheeks  become  flushed, 
and  her  eyes  kindle  ; but  in  a short  time  it  is  all  gone,  and  then, 
leaving  the  place,  she  retires  to  one  of  those  garden  chairs  sit-' 
ting  apart  from  the  rest  of  the  people,  her  cheeks  more  wasted, 
her  eyes  duller,  apparently  broken-hearted,  as  if  the  thought  of 
her  confiding  husband  and  little  ones  far  away  oppressed  her 
spirit.  But  look  again  and  3’ou  will  see  another  ladv  with  a 
younger  lady  by  her  side.  It  is  her  daughter,  and  she  is  ini- 


The  Kursaal  at  Wiesbaden. 


tiating  her  into  the  mysteries  of  gambling.  Who  would  like  to 
marr}'  such  a woman,  thus  trained  into  the  ma  steries  of  such  a 
game  as  this? 

“ A man  now  enters  the  room.  His  dress  and  person  are 
neglected,  his  face  is  unwashed,  his  long  and  curh'  hair  falls 
wildly  over  his  forehead,  seamed  and  furrowed  with  deep 
wrinkles.  A little  girl  is  by  his  side.  She,  too,  is  miserable 
dressed,  and  his  rank  seems  to  be  that  of  a peasant.  He  is  an 
inveterate  gambler  and  cannot  do  without  his  excitement.  He 
takes  a seat  at  the  foot  of  the  table,  deposits  a florin  from  time 
to  time,  and  carefully  examines  a small  marked  card  on  which 
is  marked  the  result  of  each  revolution  of  the  deal.  For  a time 
familiariw  with  the  game  seems  to  give  him  an  advantage,  and 
with  a calm  satisfaction  he  rakes  in  his  winnings  in  a heap,  on 
which  the  little  girl  bends  her  glistening  eyes.  And  there  he 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


87 


::  sits  until  the  evening  closes,  when  he  departs,  having  passed  an 
1 1 evening  of  feverish  excitement  and  lost  all.  The  face  of  that 
,i  gambler  and  the  little  girl,  who  was  always  with  him  and  who 
it  seemed  as  if  she  were  the  only  one  left  of  a ship-wrecked  and 
[ ruined  family,  haunt  me  to  this  hour. 

“ At  rouge-et-noir  is  a more  select  class  than  is  generally 
found  playing  at  roulette.  English,  Erench,  Germans,  Russians, 
' and  Poles,  and  the  fire  of  mammon  always  burning  on  his  altars 
and  the  doomed  flies  buzzing,  about  them,  some  with  alreadv 
: scorched-off  wings ; it  is  a scene  of  external  gaiety  with  all  that 
: is  internally  hollow  and  deceiving. 

“ The  lights  are  burning  brightly  overhead,  the  players 
I nearly  all  seated,  and  a large  number  of  people  forming  an  outer 
! circle. 

j “ Here  are  two  gentlemen  who  are  bold  players.  They 
I,  never  stake  silver.  A pile  of  Napoleons  lies  at  the  side  of  each, 
j,  One  player  is  about  sixty  years  of  age,  tall  and  robust;  the  other 
i a little,  dark-haired,  black-eyed  man,  and  both  appear  to  be 
habitues  of  the  place.  Three  gold  pieces  formed  the  flrst  stake, 
and  the  player  winning,  the  same  was  doubled.  Eive  more 
j Napoleons  are  won. 

“ At  this  moment  one  of  the  proprietors  can  be  seen  talking 
with  some  friends  nonchalantly,  and  apparently  uninterested  in 
the  game,  in  the  background ; but  if  you  will  watch  him  care- 
fullv,  you  can  see  that  he  ever  and  anon  casts  a searching  glance 
toward  the  table,  for  this  evening  the  game  is  going  against  the 
bank.  But  soon  caution  on  the  part  of  the  player  is  gone,  and 
golden  visions  beckon  onward.  One  of  the  gentlemen  leaves  ten 
gold  pieces  on  the  cloth,  another  turn  and  all  is  gone. 

“ It  is  here  that  an  Englishman  played  one  night  until  he 
lost  $940,000,  and  announced  his  determination  to  win  back  or 
to  lose  everything;  but  he  was  doomed  to  drink,  and  justly  too, 
the  cup  of  bitterness ; he  lost  everything.” 

hlrs.  Trollope  has  thus  described  two  specimens  of  the 
gamestresses,  who  were  wont  to  frequent  the  German  watering 
places ; 

“ There  was  one  of  this  set,”  she  says,  “ whom  I watched 
day  after  day,  during  the  whole  period  of  our  stay,  with  more 
interest  than  I believe  was  reasonable ; for  had  I studied  any 
other  as  attentively,  I might  have  found  less  to  lament. 

“ She  was  young,  certainly  not  more  than  twenty-flve,  and 


88 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


though  not  regularly  nor  brilliantly  handsome,  most  singularly 
winning,  both  in  person  and  demeanor.  Her  countenance  was 
expressive  of  anxious  thoughtfulness.  She  was  constantly  to  be 
found  at  the  rouge-et-noir  table. 

“ Her  husband,  who  had  as  unquestionably  the  air  of  a 
gentleman,  as  she  had  of  a lady,  though  not  always  close  to  her, 
was  never  very  distant.  He  did  not  play  himself,  and  I fancied, 
as  he  hovered  near  her,  that  his  countenance  expressed  anxiety. 
But  he  returned  her  sweet  smile,  with  which  she  always  met  his 
eye,  with  an  answering  smile  ; and  I saw  not  the  slightest  in- 
dication that  he  wished  her  to  withdraw  from  the  table. 

“ There  was  an  expression  in  the  upper  part  of  her  face  that 
my  blundering  science  would  have  construed  into  something 
very  foreign  to  the  propensity  she  showed ; but  there  she  sat — 
hour  after  hour,  day  after  day,  not  allowing  even  the  blessed 
Sabbath,  that  gives  rest  to  all.  to  bring  it  to  her ; — there  she  sat, 
constantly  throwing  down  half-franc  pieces,  and  sometimes 
drawing  them  back  again,  till  her  young  face  grew  rigid  with 
weariness,  and  all  the  lustre  of  her  eye  faded  into  a glare  of 
vexed  inanity.  Alas!  alas!  is  that  fair  woman  a mother? 

“ Another  figure  at  the  gaming  table,  which  daily  drew  our 
attention,  was  a pale,  anxious  old  woman,  who  seemed  no  longer 
to  have  strength  to  conceal  her  agitation  under  the  air  of  callous 
indifiference  which  all  practiced  players  endeavor  to  assume. 
She  trembled,  till  her  shaking  hand  could  hardly  grasp  the  in- 
strument with  which  she  pushed,  or  withdrew  her  pieces;  the 
dew  of  agony  stood  upon  her  wrinkled  brow;  j^et,  hour  after 
hour,  day  after  day,  she  too,  sat  in  the  enchanted  chair.  I never 
saw  age  and  station  in  a position  so  utterly  beyond  the  pale  of 
respect.  I was  assured  she  was  a person  of  rank;  and  my  in- 
formant added,  but  I trust  she  was  mistaken,  that  she  was  an 
Englishwoman.” 


WHEEL  OF  FORTUNE  OR  CHUCK-A-LUCK. 


This  is  the  name  given  to  a gambling  device  which  has  been 
a favorite  with  the  “ fraternity  ” for  many  years,  and  which  has 
never  failed  to  prove  a sure  bait  to  trap  the  unwary  and  an  un- 
failing source  of  rich  income  to  its  manipulators. 


It  is  made  with  or  without  a “ fake  ” attachment,  its  general 
appearance  in  either  case  being  the  same.  The  nature  of  the 
“ fake  ” and  its  mode  of  operation  will  be  explained  on  the  fol- 
lowing page ; the  construction  of  the  wheel  will  be  first  described. 

89 


90 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


It  is  a handsome  apparatus,  standing  about  seven  feet  high. 
The  wheel  itself  is  usually  about  four  feet  in  diameter,  and  rests 
upon  a tripod  three  feet  in  height.  Inside  the  rim  of  the  wheel 
is  a twelve-pointed  star,  between  each  two  points  of  which  are 
inscribed  either  five  or  six  numbers,  the  figures  being  painted  on 
the  rim  and  running  one  to  sixty  or  seventy-two,  consecutively. 
The  wheel  and  star  revolve  simultaneously  around  a common 
axis.  At  the  to]:i  of  the  wheel  is  an  arrow,  pointing  downward, 
which  serves  as  an  indicator. 

Around  the  wheel  is  a wooden  frame  which  is  covered 
with  cloths  on  which,  when  the  seventy-two  number  wheel  is 
used,  are  painted  the  numbers  one  to  six,  or  on  which  are  ar- 
ranged paddles,  each  one  of  which  is  marked  with  either  one  or 
six  numbers,  the  uses  of  which  will  be  described  later. 

The  wheel  is  used  either  as  an  adjunct  to  a scheme  for  the 
distribution  of  cheap  prizes  or  as  a means  of  making  bets.  The 
former  plan  is  the  one  generally  adopted  at  small  fairs,  when  a 
“ lay-out  ” of  inexpensive  queen’s  or  glassware  is  spread  upon 
the  table,  each  article,  or  lot,  bearing  its  own  number.  In  this 
case,  the  manipulation  of  the  wheel  is  sometimes  conducted 
fairly,  the  legitimate  odds  in  favor  of  the  proprietor  being  suffi- 
cient to  justify  him  in  giving  the  dupes  some  sort  of  a chance. 

Where  the  game  is  played  for  prizes,  the  common  practice 
is  to  use  the  paddles  above  referred  to,  each  inscribed  with  six 
numbers,  the  twelve  paddles  embracing  the  range  from  one  to 
seventy-two.  Each  person  wishing  to  take  a chance  pays  for  a 
paddle  (usually  five  or  ten  cents),  and  when  all  possible  have 
been  sold,  the  wheel  is  set  in  motion.  AA’hen  it  comes  to  rest,  the 
indicator  at  the  top  points  to  a number,  and  the  holder  of  the 
paddle  bearing  the  corresponding  number  has  it  at  his  option 
either  to  take  the  prize  or  a sum  in  money. 

The  most  profitable  form  of  the  wheel,  however,  is  that 
which  is  sometimes  designated  as  the  “ six  number  wheel  ” or 
the  “ big  six,”  so  called  because  the  spaces  between  the  points 
of  the  star  are  each  numbered  from  one  to  six.  AA'hen  this  de- 
vice is  operated,  the  frame  is  sometimes  covered  with  oilcloths, 
each  containing  six  squares,  numbered  from  one  to  six.  Some- 
times six  paddles,  each  bearing  a separate  number  (running 
from  one  to  six)  are  employed  besides  the  cloths;  and  not  in- 
frequently a double  set  of  paddles,  similarly  numbered. 

In  the  latter  case,  the  players  place  their  stakes  on  some 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


91 


one  or  more  numbers  upon  the  cloth.  The  paddles  are  used 
‘ when  the  crowd  is  too  great  to  be  accommodated  at  the  cloths. 

W hen  the  wagers  have  all  been  placed,  the  wheel  is  set  in  mo- 
i tion.  Breathlessly  the  players  await  the  result.  When  it  ceases 


Big  Six. 

to  revolve,  the  indicator  at  the  top  points  to  some  number.  The 
player  who  has  staked  his  money  upon  that  number  has  it  re- 
turned to  him,  increased  by  four. 

As  a matter  of  fact,  however,  when  the  wheel  comes  to  rest 
it  is  usually  discovered  that  no  heavy  player  has  been  fortunate 
enough  to  make  just  that  bet.  The  reason  is  simple.  The  reader 
who  will  carefully  examine  the  accompanying  cut  will  perceive 


92 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


the  representation  of  a rod  running  through  the  upright  support 
of  the  wheel  and  one  of  the  legs  of  the  tripod,  thence  turning 
to  the  right  and  terminating  under  a plank  in  the  floor,  directly 
below  the  operator’s  foot.  By  simply  pressing  on  this  mechan- 
ism,, the  latter  checks  the  motion  of  the  wheel  by  application  of 
friction  at  the  pivot,  and  brings  it  to  a standstill  at  any  point 
which  he  may  desire. 

The  rod  which  you  see  in  the  illustration,  is  of  the  latest 
construction,  and  represents  an  electric  attachment.  This  makes 
it  possible  to  operate  by  other  means  than  the  foot.  To  show 
that  it  is  considered  to  be  of  great  value  in  getting  the  money, 
the  reader  may  be  interested  to  know  that  the  price  of  this  little 
piece  of  mechanism  is  $100. 

Not  always,  however,  is  the  proprietor  of  the  wheel  the 
only  sharper  on  the  ground.  Lnless  he  is  very  careful,  he  some- 
times discovers,  when  it  is  too  late,  that  he  has  been  playing 
a game  of  ‘‘  diamond  cut  diamond.”  His  apparatus  fails  to  work 
as  he  had  expected,  and  when  he  realizes  his  percentage  has  not 
reached  up  to  his  expectations,  he  carefully  examines  his  wheel, 
and  learns  that  some  more  astute  scoundrel  than  himself  has 
plugged  some  point  on  the  circumference  with  lead,  bringing  it 
to  rest  by  the  simple  but  sure  operation  of  the  law  of  gravitation. 

Sometimes,  instead  of  the  numbers  above  referred  to,  there 
are  used  certain  printed  inscriptions,  representing  speculative 
articles  dealt  in  on  the  floors  of  the  stock  and  produce  exchanges, 
such  as  pork,  lard,  corn,  oats,  rye,  barley,  seeds,  and  various 
kinds  of  corporation  stocks.  This  form  of  the  device  is  ordina- 
rily known  as  the  ” Board  of  Trade  AMieel,”  and  is  sometimes 
found  to  be  very  popular  in  rural  districts. 

The  paddle  wheel  is  very  popular  at  carnivals,  picnics, 
fairs,  turkey  raffles,  saloons  and  church  fairs.  It  is  simple  in 
construction,  and  small  in  price.  Possibly  the  simplicity  of  the 
device  makes  it  the  more  dangerous.  At  the  fairs  you  will  find 
girls  handing  out  the  paddles  and  urging  women  and  children 
to  buy  a paddle  for  five  cents.  It  is  a shame  that  county  and 
city  officials  should  tolerate  and  allow  these  devices  to  run.  If 
the  duly  elected  officials  have  no  respect  for  the  laws  which  they 
have  sworn  to  enforce,  how  can  they  expect  to  have  law-abiding 
citizens  in  their  communities?  If  a murder  is  committed  there 
is  a great  outcry  against  such  an  outrageous  crime,  and  efforts 
are  generally  made  to  capture  the  perpetrator  of  such  an  act. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


93 


But  if  we  condemn  the  police  officials  for  not  acting  and 
pushing  the  law  against  the  gamblers,  what  shall  we  say  against 
those  churches  that  not  only  tolerate  such  a condition,  but  actu- 
ally use  these  devices  at  their  fairs?  Chief  of  Police  Smith, 


Paddle  Wheel. 


Canton,  Ohio,  once  asked  the  question,  “ when  have  the  churches 
stopped  their  gambling?”  This  is  probably  what  he  had  refer- 
ence to. 

We  are,  unfortunately,  living  in  an  age  when  men  are  not 
guided  so  much  by  principle,  as  they  are  to  get  the  best  of 
their  neighbor.  It  is  useless  to  sing  hymns  and  psalms  where 
this  form  of  gambling  is  allowed  in  the  church,  for  it  is  a direct 
violation  of  the  commandment  “ Thou  shalt  not  steal and  if 
we  violate  one  of  the  commandments  vv^e  are  guilty  of  all. 


94 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


MONTE  CARLO  POOL. 

“ The  wise  saloon  man  takes  hold  of  good  games  and  novel- 
ties as  they  come  out  and  he  is  the  one  who  gets  the  business.” 

The  above  is  a quotation  from  the  game-keeper's  catalogue 
to  induce  saloon  men  and  others  to  invest  in  this  game.  The  de- 
scription as  given  by  them  is  better  than  any  that  could  be  sub- 
stituted, and  is  as  follows : 

“ The  Monte  Carlo  outfit  consists  of  one  composition  ball, 
white,  one  handsome  enamel  layout  with  three  colors  on  it,  red. 


white  and  blue.  One  IMonte  Carlo  Board  ; the  board  contains  3<S 
holes — 16  red,  16  white  and  6 blue : even  money  being  paid  on 
the  white  or  red  and  4 to  1 on  the  blue,  which  makes  this  one 
of  the  strongest  per  cent,  games  ever  invented.  W e have  cus- 
tomers who  win  from  $o0  to  $500  every  Saturday  night  with  one 
of  these  boards.  The  game  is  also  run  on  the  commission  basis ; 
each  one  of  the  holes  are  numbered  from  1 to  38,  the  game- 
keeper  selling  numbered  balls  at  ten  cents  each,  then  banks  the 
cue  ball  against  the  end  rail,  which  returns  it  up  the  incline  of 
the  board,  and  finally  settles  in  one  of  the  holes,  the  player  hav- 
ing the  numbered  ball  to  match  the  number  on  the  board,  or  the 
nearest  to  it,  receives  the  purse,  less  the  commissions  deducted 
by  the  house  for  running  the  game;  or,  if  you  are  not  allowed 
to  gamble,  you  can  use  it  as  a trade  game,  each  player  shooting 
six  times  and  adding  the  sum  total  of  the  numbers  of  the  holes 
he  puts  the  ball  in,  the  low  man  having  to  buy  the  drinks.” 

It  will  be  perceived  that  either  way  the  game  is  played  it 
cannot  be  anything  else  but  gambling. 


THE  STOCK  EXCHANGE. 


The  idea  of  a commercial  exchange  germinated  in  the  United 
States  before  the  war  of  the  American  Revolution.  Here,  as 
in  Europe,  the  basis  of  every  mercantile  exchange  is  a voluntary 
union  of  business  men,  who  deem  it  for  their  mutual  interest 
regularly  to  assemble  in  some  convenient  locality  for  the  purpose 
of  effecting  the  sale  of  commodities  or  securities,  and  of  profiting 
by  the  fluctuations  in  market  prices.  Stock  exchanges,  produce 
exchanges,  chambers  of  commerce  and  boards  of  trade  are  all 
essentially  identical  in  character,  the  principal  point  of  difference 
being  the  nature  of  the  commodities  bought  and  sold. 

As  an  institution,  the  commercial  exchange  has  been  produc- 
tive of  some  good,  but  much  harm.  If  restricted  in  its  scope  to 
the  legitimate  purposes  of  commerce,  it  is  unquestionably  of  the 
highest  benefit  to  the  business  world.  When  its  operations  are 
diverted  into  illegitimate  channels  it  becomes  a source  of  in- 
calculable injury  to  societ}^  As  a great  market  place,  it  plays 
an  important  part  in  modern  civilization ; as  a gigantic  agency 
for  the  promotion  of  gambling  in  the  commodities  of  the  world, 
it  is  a snare,  a delusion  and  a curse. 

Not  all  the  gambling  hells  of  the  country  combined  afford 
facilities  for  gambling  equal  to  those  furnished  by  these  organi- 
zations. The  faro  dealer  places  a limit  upon  the  stakes  wagered; 
upon  the  floor  of  ’Change  one  may  bet  without  limit.  Not 
everyone  can  obtain  admittance  to  the  gilded  salon  of  the  tiger; 
the  commission  merchant,  or  broker,  who  does  business  upon 
the  Stock  Exchange  or  Board  of  Trade  accepts  orders  from  all 
comers.  The  character  of  the  transactions  in  which  his  princi- 
pals engage  is  to  him  a matter  of  indifference,  his  interest  being 
centered  in  their  frequency  and  extent. 

klembers  of  these  bodies  may  be  classified  on  any  one  of 
several  general  principles.  One  system  of  classification  has  rela- 
tion to  the  character  of  their  operations ; in  other  words,  all 
members  may  be  divided  into  two  classes,  the  first  comprising 
those  who  venture  on  their  own  account  (popularly  known  as 
“ speculators  and  the  second  embracing  those  who  buy  or  sell 
only  on  the  receipt  of  orders  from  outsiders  (i.  e.,  brokers).  Un- 


96 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


der  another  system,  members  may  be  classified  as  those  who  Avish 
to  enhance  the  prices  of  commodities  on  the  one  hand,  and  those 
who,  on  the  other,  seek  to  depress  the  market  quotations.  The 
former  are  technically  known  as  “ bulls,”  and  the  latter  as 
“ bears.”  These  sobriquets  are  derived  from  the  well  known  pro- 
pensities of  the  two  descriptions  of  animals,  and  one  to  hoist  and 
the  other  to  pull  down.  The  distinction  between  “ longs  ” and 
“ shorts  ” is  substantially  of  the  same  nature.  A “ long  ” is  a 
speculator  who,  believing  that  the  price  of  a certain  commodity 
is  destined  to  advance,  buys  freely  in  anticipation  of  a rise.  It 
follows  that  he  is  naturally,  if  not  inherently,  a “ bull.”  On  the 
other  hand,  a “ short,”  judging  that  the  quotations  are  destined 
to  decline,  sells  wherever  he  can  find  a purchaser.  He,  naturally, 
is  a “ bear.”  It  must  not  be  forgotten,  however,  that  neither  of 
these  parties  for  a moment  actually  expects  either  to  receive  or 
deliver  the  articles  which  he  buys  or  sells ; and  the  reason  for 
this  apparently  inconsistent  statement  will  be  explained  later. 

With  these  few  prefatory  words  of  explanation,  we  will  pur- 
sue the  course  of  the  speculator,  after  which  Avill  be  given  a defi- 
nition of  the  slang  terms  used. 

And  first,  as  to  the  speculator:  He  may  fall  within  either 
one  of  two  categories — the  professional  or  the  occasional.  Yet 
even  under  the  general  caption  of  professional  speculators,  oper- 
ators may  be  divided  into  two  classes.  One  embraces  men 
whose  large  wealth  enables  them  to  contrive  and  engineer  Avhat 
is  popularly  knoAvn  as  a “ corner;”  the  other  includes  those  who 
follow  in  their  Avake,  belieA’ing  that  they  can  discern  their  inten- 
tions, and  laying  the  flattering  delusion  to  their  souls  that  they 
can  presage  the  course  of  prices.  The  professional  speculator,  as 
being  the  “ larger  fish,”  should  first  claim  our  notice.  He  it  is 
Avho  originates  for  any  giA’en  commodity  to  a point  far  beyond 
their  legitimate  A’alue,  AAdth  a A'ieAA"  to  enriching  the  feAV  at  the 
expense  of  the  many.  ]\Ien  of  this  stamp  ordinarily  associate 
with  themseh’es  kindred  spirits,  AA'hose  natural  bent  is  the  same 
as  their  own,  and  whose  capital  may  proA'e  of  A'alue  in  carrying 
out  their  schemes.  The  combination  haA'ing  been  formed,  the 
first  objectiA^e  point  is  the  selection  of  some  commodity  or  stock 
to  “ corner.”  The  choice  haA’ing  been  made,  the  next  step  is, 
quietly  and  unostentatiously  to  buy  all  of  it  that  can  be  pur- 
chased. Let  not  the  unsophisticated  reader  for  a moment  sup- 
pose, howcA'^er,  that  the  syndicate  thus  formed  proposes  to  buy 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


97 


li  the  article  in  question  at  current  rates.  Ear  otherwise.  Prices 
i must  be  depressed,  and  there  is  an  obvious  way  in  which  to  effect 
I this  result.  Every  market  in  the  world  is  supposed  to  be  gov- 
i erned  by  the  normal  relations  between  supply  and  demand.  It 
I follows  that  free  offerings  of  any  commodity  are  likely  to  re- 
duce its  quotable  value.  What,  then,  are  the  tactics  of  the 
“operator?”  Evidently  to  offer  to  sell  freely.  Under  the  influ- 
ence of  the  precipitation  of  large  lots,  prices  recede,  and  the 
speculator  is  shrewd  enough  to  purchase  “ at  the  bottom  of  the 
market.”  Of  course  he  does  not  expose  his  policy  by  buying 
i such  enormous  quantities  in  his'own  name.  He  has  recourse  to 
firms  doing  a strictly  commission  business,  of  whom  he  employs 
a multiplicity,  and  who  always  refuse  to  disclose  the  name  of 
their  principal — not  from  any  high  sense  of  honor,  but  from 
i motives  of  self-interest,  for  the  simple  reason  that  such  exposure 
Avotdd  result  in  a pre-emptory  withdrawal  of  business.  Having 
secured  the  desired  quantity  of  stock  or  commodity  selected,  the 
I clique  proceeds  to  advance  the  price,  not  abruptly  but  gradually, 
selling  a little  here  and  buying  a little  there,  the  object  being 
the  mystification  of  the  miscellaneous  dealers.  At  last  comes 
j what  is  known  as  the  “ squeeze.”  The  cabal  having  all,  or  at 
least  the  great  preponderance,  of  the  article  where  they  can,  if 
they  choose,  call  for  its  immediate  delivery,  refuse  to  entertain 
any  offers  at  less  than  the  limit  fixed.  The  consequence  is,  that 
the  “ shorts  ” — i.  e.,  the  men  who  have  sold  to  the  syndicate — are 
compelled  to  settle  at  the  price  to  which  the  coalition  has  forced 
quotations.  The  method  of  operation  can  be  best  illustrated  by 
a suppositious  case.  Let  us  suppose — simply  by  way  of  illus- 
tration— that  a coterie  of  dealers  in  grain  resolve  to  force  up 
the  price  of  wheat,  although  not  to  localize  the  illustration  we 
might  assume  the  formation  of  a “ corner  ” on  some  one  of  the 
numerous  stock  exchanges  with  which  the  country  is  blessed  ( ?) 
or  cursed.  But  let  us  take  the  Chicago  Board  of  Trade,  with 
whose  methods  the  author  is  most  familiar:  Let  us  suppose  the 
article  to  be  “ cornered  ” is  “ July  wheat,”  and  that  the  combina- 
tion has  been  formed  in  March.  Resort  is  had  to  the  tactics  above 
explained.  Wheat  for  July  delivery  is  first  depressed,  then 
bought,  and  in  the  end  sold  without  regard  to  its  inherent  value, 
but  solely  with  a view  to  what  the  “ shorts  ” may  be  forced  to 
pay.  The  profits  of  such  “ corners,”  thus  constructed,  are  some- 
times enormous.  Yet,  as  in  the  game  of  faro,  the  most  expert 


98 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


dealer  is  cometimes  put  to  heavy  loss  by  the  combination  which 
is  playing  against  the  bank;  so  even  the  machinations  of  the 
strongest  and  shrewdest  operators  are  brought  to  nought  either 
by  a combination  of  brighter  minds,  by  a failure  to  carefully 
guard  every  weak  spot,  or,  it  may  be,  by  very  chance.  The  same 
elements  are  present  in  both  games,  faro  and  stock-jobbing. 
These  corners  are  conceived  in  cupidity,  carried  on  in  deceit,  and 
consummated  in  heartlessness ; yet  there  are  not  wanting  those 
who  affirm  that  the  commercial  exchange  is  the  very  prop  and 
bulwark  of  American  commerce ! That  the  exchange,  in  its  legit- 
imate scope,  affords  an  easy  and  safe  way  of  doing  business, 
cannot  be  denied ; that  its  practical  operation  is  to  foster  specu- 
lation and  encourage  reckless  gambling  is  equally  indisputable. 

This  assertion  seems,  on  its  face,  perhaps,  ill-considered,  3'et 
it  is  abundantly  justified  by  facts.  We  have,  thus  far,  considered 
only  the  tactics  of  the  professional  “ operator.”  Let  us,  for  a 
moment,  consider  the  fortune  (or  misfortune)  that  awaits  the 
occasional  speculator.  The  latter  closely  resembles  the  man  who 
plunges  headlong  into  the  Niagara  rapids  without  even  a rudi- 
mentary knowledge  of  the  att  of  swimming.  Like  a chip,  he 
sports  upon  the  crest  of  the  edd3'ing  waters  of  the  whirlpool, 
until,  gradually  drawn  nearer  and  nearer  to  the  center,  he  is 
sucked  into  its  very  vortex,  sinking  to  reappear  no  more.  Yet 
this  comparison  is  weak.  The  outside  speculator  who  fancies 
that  he  can  buy  or  sell  on  “ pointers  ” (private  information) 
given  him  by  parties  well-posted,  ver3''  nearl3^  approaches  an 
idiot  in  the  matter  of  intelligence.  Let  us  take,  as  a single  illus- 
tration, a case  which  fell  under  the  author’s  personal  observa- 
tion. The  experience  of  the  victim  (whom  we  will  call  Jones)  is 
by  no  means  exceptional.  “ IMr.  Jones”  was  advised  b3'  a 
friend  ( ?)  that  ‘‘  old  Higgenbotham  ” had  bought  up  all  of  a 
certain  article  and  that  within  sixty  da3'S  prices  were  destined 
materially  to  appreciate.  Naturally  “ IMr.  Jones  ” found  his 
interest,  as  well  as  his  cupidit3''  stimulated.  V hat  would  his 
friend  recommend  him  to  do?  “ Bin',  of  course,  and  bin-  heav- 
ily,” was  the  answer.  ” But  I don’t  know  how  to  bu3',”  objected 
Jones.  “ Why,”  replied  his  advisor,  ” that’s  the  easiest  thing  in 
the  world,  O X & Z,  one  of  the  best  houses  in  the  street,  are 
particular  friends  of  mine.  Take  m\'  card  and  go  down  and  see 
them.  The3"’ll  use  you  right.”  The  unfortunate  ” Jones  ” lis- 
tened to  the  siren  song.  He  interviewed  0 X & Z.  b3'  whom  he 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


99 


i was  received  with  distinguished  consideration.  The  firm  of 
I brokers  explains  to  him  how  he  could,  by  depositing  with  them 
I a “ margin  ” of  five  per  cent,  on  the  par  value  of  his  prospective 
purchase,  become  the  putative  owner  of  twenty  times  the 
' amount  of  his  deposit.  Of  course  he  must  buy  for  future  deliv- 
ery, this  not  being  a cash  transaction.  But  there  was  no  doubt 
that  prices  would  advance.  Oh,  certainly  not. 

‘‘  IMr.  Jones  ” was  naturally  a little  timorous,  being  unac- 
customed to  speculation.  He  advanced  a few  hundred  dollars, 
however,  by  way  of  " margins,”  and  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
“ deal  ” found  himself  winner  by  a handsome  sum.  His  experi- 
ence W'as  a revelation  to  him.  He  ventured  again  and  again, 
with  varying  success.  Finally  he  found  himself  heavily  inter- 
ested on  the  wrong  side  of  the  market.  He  was  assured  that 
prices  must  necessarily  take  a turn,  and  he  could  ill  afford  the 
sum  already  risked. 

Vdien  the  day  of  settlement  arrived,  the  bubble  burst  and 
the  unfortunate  man  found  himself  buried  fathoms  deep  in  dis- 
honor and  ruin.  Not  only  was  he  penniless,  but  he  realized  that 
wherever  he  went  the  finger  of  scorn  pointed  out  his  every  step. 
A temperate  man  before,  he  plunged  headlong  into  dissipation. 
His  wife  found  herself  compelled  to  leave  him,  and  to-day, 
stripped  of  fortune,  bereft  of  family,  deserted  by  friends,  he 
walks  the  streets  with  faltering  tread,  aimlessly  and  hopelessly ; 
hanging  about  bucket-shops  and  pool-rooms,  considering  that  a 
fortunate  day  on  which,  honestly  or  dishonestly,  he  can  earn 
half  a dollar. 

Better,  far  better,  were  it  for  the  man  who  enters  a gaming 
resort  that  his  first  wager  prove  unsuccessful ; far  happier  would 
he  be  who  determines  to  ” speculate  in  futures  ” did  his  first 
venture  result  in  heavy  loss.  In  either  case  the  influence  of 
failure  would  prove  a deterrent  sufficiently  powerful  to  avert 
years  of  future  misery,  if  not  ultimate  destruction. 

The  technical  nomenclature  of  the  exchange — sometimes 
termed  the  “ slang  of  the  street  ” — \yhich,  as  has  been  remarked, 
is  incomprehensible  to  the  uninitiated,  in  itself  affords  some  key 
to  the  nature  of  the  business  transacted.  Some  of  the  most 
common  terms  are  here  defined,  although  to  enumerate  them  all 
would  swell  the  number  of  these  pages  considerably. 

A “ scalper  ” is  an  operator  who  makes  it  his  practice  to 
close  his  transactions  as  soon  as  he  can  see  a small  profit,  say 


100 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


a quarter  of  one  cent.  His  operations  are  neither  more  nor 
less  than  betting  on  a rise  or  fall  in  prices. 

The  “ guerilla  ” is  a species  of  the  genus  “ scalper,”  few  in 
number,  and  makes  a specialty  of  dealing  in  stocks  and  com- 
modities. So  unsavory  is  the  reputation  of  this  class  that  it  has 
fixed  the  appellation  of  “ Hell’s  Kitchen  ” and  “ Robber’s  Roost” 
upon  certain  localities  in  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange. 

Still  another  class  is  composed  of  those  who  strive  to  enrich 
themselves  by  the  fictitious  rise  and  fall  of  a particular  stock  in 
which  they  constantly  deal. 

“ Forcing  quotations  ” is  keeping  up  prices  by  any  means 
whatever.  When  this  is  accomplished  by  the  dissemination  of 
fictitious  news  or  the  circulation  of  unfounded  rumors,  the  oper- 
ator is  said  to  “ balloon  ” prices. 

A speculator  is  said  to  “ take  a flyer  ” when  he  engages  in 
some  side  venture ; he  “ flies  kites  ” when  he  expands  opera- 
tions injudiciously;  he  “ holds  the  market”  when  he  prevents  a 
decline  in  prices  by  buying  heavily  ; he  “ milks  the  street  ” when 
he  manipulates  so  skilfully  that  they  rise  or  fall  at  his  pleasure ; 
he  “ unloads  ” when  he  sells  the  particular  stock  or  commodity 
of  which  he  is  “long;”  he  “spills  stock”  when  he  offers  large 
quantities  with  a view  to  lowering  or  “ breaking  ” prices ; if  he 
is  successful  in  these  tactics  he  is  said  to  “ saddle  the  market.” 

A “ bear  ” is  said  to  be  “ gunning  ” a stock  when  he  employs 
all  his  energy  and  craft  to  “ break  ” its  price.  He  “ covers,”  or 
“ covers  his  shorts,”  when  he  buys  to  fulfill  his  contracts.  He 
“ sells  out  ” a man  by  forcing  prices  down  so  that  the  latter  is 
obliged  to  relinquish  what  he  is  “ carrying,”  perhaps  to  fail. 

The  nature  of  a “ corner  ” has  already  been  set  forth  in  de- 
tail. The  operator  or  clique  organizing  and  managing  it  is  said 
to  “ run  ” it.  The  day  when  final  settlement  must  be  made  be- 
tween the  opposing  parties  engaged  in  such  a transaction  is 
termed  “ settling  day.”  If  the  “ bears  ” are  forced  to  settle  at 
unusually  high  prices  they  are  said  to  be  “ squeezed.”  The 
“ squeeze  ” which  has  followed  many  a corner  has  precipitated 
many  a Avealthy  man  into  financial  ruin.  This  circumstance, 
however,  is  usually  a matter  of  utter  indifference  to  the  manipu- 
lators. The  success  of  a “ corner  ” is  sometimes  prevented  by 
what  is  known  as  a “ squeal,”  or  revelation  of  the  secrets  of  the 
pool  or  clique  by  one  of  its  members.  Sometimes  the  plans  of 
the  organizers  of  a “ corner  ” are  brought  to  naught  by  a “leak  ” 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


101 


in  the  pool,  that  is,  by  one  of  the  members  secretly  selling  out 
his  holdings.  Of  course,  a “ corner  ” can  be  formed  only  on 
what  is  known  as  a “ future,”  or  future  delivery,  by  which  is 
meant  the  sale  and  purchase  of  some  stock  or  commodity  to  be 
delivered  at  some  period  in  the  future. 

Yet  another  form  of  gambling  very  common  upon  the  floors 
of  stock  and  commercial  exchanges  is  known  as  dealing  in 
“ puts,”  “ calls  ” and  “ straddles.”  When  a person  buys  a “ put,” 
he  pays  a stipulated  sum  for  the  privilege  of  selling  to  the  party 
to  whom  it  is  paid,  a certain  quantity  of  some  particular  stock 
or  other  article,  within  a fixed  time,  at  a designated  price.  Thus 
A might  pay  to  B one  hundred  dollars  for  the  privilege  of  selling 
him  one  hundred  shares  of  Union  Pacific  stock  at  a stipulated 
price,  within  ten  days.  As  a matter  of  course,  the  price  named 
is  always  a little  below  the  current  quotation  ruling  at  the 
time  the  quotation  is  made,  that  is,  the  day  upon  which  the 
“ put  ” is  bought.  If,  for  instance,  the  “ put  ” is  sold  at  eighty 
cents  on  that  day,  and  the  market  declines  to  seventy-five,  A 
might  tender  to  B the  one  hundred  shares,  and  the  latter  would 
be  compelled  to  take  them  at  the  price.  In  such  a case  A would 
have  gained  five  dollars  per  share,  or  five  hundred  dollars  in  all, 
provided  he  had  “ covered  his  shorts,”  that  is,  bought  in  the 
stock  which  he  had  already  put,  at  the  latter  figure.  As  a matter 
of  fact,  neither  party  contemplated  an  actual  delivery.  The 
market  having  declined,  A’s  net  gain  is,  of  course,  only  four 
hundred  dollars,  he  having  already  paid  one  hundred  dollars  to 
B.  This  appears  an  easy  method  of  winning  money.  As  a mat- 
ter of  fact,  however,  experience  has  shown  that  very  few  men 
win  through  the  purchase  of  “ puts  ” and  “ calls.” 

A “ call  ” is  similar  in  its  general  nature  to  a “ put,”  but 
differs  from  it  in  that  the  buyer  of  the  former  has  the  privilege 
of  calling  or  buying  a certain  quantity,  under  the  same  condi- 
tions. The  seller  of  the  “ put  ” contracts  to  buy,  and  of  the 
“ call  ” to  sell,  whenever  the  demand  is  made. 

A “ straddle  ” is  a combination  of  the  “ put  ” and  the  “ call,” 
and  is  the  option  of  either  bu3dng  or  selling.  The  cost  of  these 
“ puts,”  “ calls,”  and  “ straddles,”  which  are  known  as  “ privi- 
leges,” varies  from  one  to  five  per  cent,  of  the  par  value  of  the 
stock,  or  the  market  value  of  the  commodity  involved,  and  de- 
pends upon  the  time  they  have  to  run,  the  range  covered,  and 
the  activity  and  sensitiveness  of  the  market. 


103 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


It  is  claimed  in  behalf  of  these  privileges  that  they  are,  in 
their  essence,  really  contracts  of  insurance,  and  as  such  are  en- 
tirely legitimate.  The  general  public,  however,  has  alwa3-s  re- 
garded them  as  a complex  system  of  betting,  and  believes  that 
they  constitute  one  of  the  most  pernicious  features  of  the  ex- 
change. That  they  do  not  tend  to  promote  commerce  is  shown 
b\r  the  fact  that  neither  party  to  the  transaction  for  a moment 
contemplates  the  actual  delivery  of  the  article  bought  or  sold. 
It  is  essentially  a wager  between  two  individuals  as  to  the  future 
course  of  the  market,  one  betting  that  prices  will  advance,  and 
the  other  that  they  will  decline. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  very  common  practice  of 
attempting  to  “ bull  ” or  “ bear  ” quotations  by  buying  or  selling 
large  quantities,  or  “ blocks  ” of  some  particular  article.  There 
is  probably  no  description  of  market  in  the  world  so  extremely 
sensitive  as  the  commercial  exchange.  A sale  or  purchase  of 
any  given  commodity  by  certain,  well-known  operators,  is  often 
sufficient  to  excite  its  pulse  to  fever  heat.  A similar  result  may 
ensue  from  a report  that  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  contem- 
plates a call  of  a certain  number  of  bonds;  that  there  was  a 
talk  of  war  between  this  country,  and  Japan;  that  a norther  in 
Texas  had  killed  a herd  of  cattle;  that  a few  grasshoppers  had 
been  seen  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fargo ; or  that  the  mercury 
was  believed  to  be  about  to  fall  in  Northern  ^^linnesota.  The 
great  speculators,  the  master  minds  of  these  gigantic  institu- 
tions, are  quick  to  perceive  this  sensitiveness,  and  equalh' 
prompt  to  avail  themselves  of  it.  Fictitious  news  is  as  potent 
an  agency  in  advancing  or  depressing  prices  as  is  the  genuine 
article,  and  it  is  a sad  truth  that  there  are  not  wanting  large 
operators  who  do  not  scruple  to  employ  it.  It  is  said — and  there 
is  good  reason  to  believe  the  statement  to  be  true — that  there 
are  men  of  all  great  commercial  centers  whose  only  occupation 
is  the  dissemination  of  unfounded  reports,  with  a view  of  raising 
or  lowering  the  prices  of  certain  commodities  in  regard  to  which 
the  rise  or  fall  of  a fraction  of  a cent  may  mean  the  gain  or  loss 
of  millions.  These  manufacturers  of  fictitious  news  are  said  to 
“ wear  purple  and  fine  linen  and  fare  sumptuously  every  da_v." 
The  results  of  their  operations  are  to  be  found  in  the  wrecking 
of  important  financial  and  corporate  interests  and  the  corre- 
sponding enrichment  of  the  unprincipled  manipulators  who  em- 
ploy them. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


103 


Some  years  ago,  there  came  a mysterious  rumor  to  the  New 
York  Stock  Exchange,  that  the  directors  of  a certain  railroad  in 
the  Northwest  had  decided  upon  taking  a step  which  could  not 
i fail  to  prove  disastrous  in  the  extreme  to  the  interests  of  the  cor- 
j poration.  No  one  was  able  to  tell  just  where  the  rumor  origi- 
nated, yet  it  found  sufficient  credence  to  depress  the  price  of  the 
I road’s  stock,  and  to  induce  free  selling.  The  next  day  came  the 
refutation  of  the  story ; the  stock  recovered  its  tone,  and  the 
clique  in  rvhose  interest  the  lie  had  been  sent  over  the  wires 
reaped  a profit  of  $60,000.  In  the  slang  of  Wall  Street  this  was 
called  a “ plum.”  It  is  difficult  to  see  the  difference  in  moral 
turpitude  between  such  tactics  as  these  and  “steering”  for  a 
“ brace  ” faro  bank. 

And  yet  there  are  not  wanting  those  who  affirm,  and  stoutly 
maintain,  that  without  the  commercial  exchange,  business  would 
be  brought  to  a stand-still,  and  commerce  paral3"zed ; that  Boards 
of  Trade  and  Produce  and  Stock  Exchanges  are  prime  factors 
in  advancing  the  welfare  of  the  country.  And  this  is  said  de- 
spite the  fact  that  the  percentage  of  legitimate  business  done  is 
utterly  insignificant  in  comparison  with  that  which  is  purely 
speculative  in  its  character.  The  sales  of  one  agricultural  prod- 
uct alone  upon  the  floor  of  a single  mart  of  this  sort  for  one 
month  alone  have  been  known  to  equal  the  production  of  the 
entire  country  for  a whole  year!  Is  this  legitimate  commerce, 
or  is  it  gambling  on  the  wildest  and  most  extensive  scale?  Mem- 
bers of  various  Boards  in  the  United  States  who  assume  to  do 
a strictly  legitimate  business,  sent  out  circulars  through  the 
rural  districts,  the  sole  object  of  which  is  to  induce  the  recipients 
to  speculate  upon  the  floor  of  ’Change.  These  communications 
depict,  in  glowing  terms,  the  ease  and  certainty  with  which 
ignorant  countrymen  ma\"  acquire  fortunes  in  a day,  through  the 
purchase  of  a “ put  ” or  “ call  ” or  a “ straddle.”  They  purport 
to  explain,  fulh^  and  clearly,  the  methods  of  speculating  in  stocks 
and  grain,  and  represent  the  system  as  simple  and  easily  compre- 
hensible, while  the  authors  know  that  the  system  is  in  itself  com- 
plex and  the  issue  a venture — at  the  very  best — uncertain.  It  is 
not  pretended  that  the  transaction  contemplates  an  actual  trans- 
fer of  the  commodity  from  seller  to  binder.  Is  this  frank?  Is 
it  manly?  Is  it  honest?  Is  the  fifty  per  cent,  reduction  sale  and 
cut-rate  drug  store  as  deceptive  ? 

As  regards  the  “principles  of  justice  and  equity  in  trade” 


104 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


which  are  “ inculcated  ” by  commercial  exchanges  generally, 
nothing  more  need  be  said.  W ere  the  transactions  on  their  floors 
confined  to  actual  sales  at  prices  influenced  only  by  legitimate 
means  and  natural  causes,  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  they 
would  prove  potent  factors  in  the  furtherance  of  commerce  and 
advancements  of  its  best  interests.  It  is  not  in  this  aspect  that 
the  author  is  considering  them.  His  reprehension  of  their  prac- 
tices is  predicated  upon  the  other,  and  broader  side  of  their 
character,  i.  e.,  their  speculative  side.  It  can  scarcely  be  called 
an  open  question  whether  it  “ inculcates  principles  of  justice  and 
equity  in  trade  ” for  one  man  to  buy  up  all  the  wheat  in  sight 
( and  out  of  sight  too,  for  that  matter)  and  then  force  an  alleged 
buyer,  but  an  actual  rival  whom  he  has  done  his  best  to  mislead, 
to  settle  with  him  at  a price  exceeding  by  100  to  150  per  cent, 
the  actual  value  of  the  commodity. 

But  it  is  the  “object”  last  mentioned — the  “dissemination 
of  valuable  commercial  and  economic  information” — concernins: 
which  the  exchange  in  question  has  taken  such  a peculiar  posi- 
tion. Originally,  the  “ information  ” at  its  command,  whether 
“ valuable  ” or  otherwise,  was  “ disseminated  ” with  the  auto- 
matic regularity  of  clock  work.  Whether  this  dissemination  was 
undertaken  for  the  benefit  of  the  public  at  large,  or  from  motives 
purely  selfish  is  immaterial  in  this  connection,  although  the 
“object”  may  be,  perhaps,  inferred  from  the  course  of  the  di- 
rectors. It  was  found  that  places  far  less  pretentious  were  be- 
ing opened  and  were  doing  a thriving  business.  Within  the 
shadow  of  the  great  tower  sprang  up  an  “ Open  Board,”  which 
attracted  speculators  who  might  otherwise  have  conducted  their 
operations  through  the  channels  opened  by  the  more  august 
body.  Moreover  “ bucket-shops  ” (the  pernicious  character  of 
whose  methods  will  be  explained  hereafter)  multiplied  and 
flourished.  The  quotations  of  the  regular  exchange  were  as  the 
“ vital  air  ” to  the  smaller  concerns.  “ Withdraw  our  quota- 
tions,” said  the  directors,  “ and  all  competition  will  come  to 
naught.”  A wrangle  ensued,  followed  by  litigation  in  the  courts, 
resulting  in  the  triumph  of  the  more  renowned  body,  the  “ genu- 
ine, old,  original  Jacobs.”  In  other  words,  the  “ dissemination  of 
valuable  commercial  and  economic  information,”  came  to  an 
abrupt  and  untimely  end,  and  one  of  the  “ objects  of  the  organi- 
zation, announced  to  the  world  with  gravity,  parade  and  rhe- 
torical flourish,  failed  of  accomplishment. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


105 


Alas  for  the  rarity 
Of  Christian  charity 
Under  the  sun. 

And  alas,  too,  for  the  sincerity  and  consistency  of  poor, 
weak  human  nature. 

“ Bread  is  the  staff  of  life.”  A few  years  ago  Patten  cor- 
nered July  wheat  and  thus  controlled  three  million  bushels  of 
wheat  which  was  then  available.  He  rushed  the  price  up  to 
$1.37  a bushel.  It  is  the  poor  who  suffer  from  such  transactions. 
Patten  may  dwell  in  a home  of  elegance  and  luxury  provided  for 
out  of  the  unearned  fortune  obtained  through  these  transactions, 
while  the  poor  are  struggling  to  raise  a few  extra  cents  with 
which  to  buy  bread.  It  is  nothing  but  sheer  robbery  for  any 
person  to  so  control  the  price  of  food  stuff  as  to  make  its  price 
prohibitive  to  the  poor.  God  estimates  character;  not  station 
and  vain  distinctions.  He  blesses  those  who  earn  their  bread 
by  the  sweat  of  their  brow,  but  condemns  those  who,  with  their 
money  power,  control  the  price  of  the  one  absolute  necessity  of 
life,  thereby  taking  it  almost  out  of  the  reach  of  the  poor.  “ He 
that  withholdeth  corn,  the  people  shall  curse  him;  but  blessing 
shall  be  upon  the  head  of  him  that  selleth  it.” — Proverbs  xi.,  13. 
It  would  be  well  for  Patten  and  others  to  read  the  Scriptures 
and  take  them  for  a guide  throughout  life. 

When  Patten  visited  Manchester,  England,  in  1910,  he  re- 
ceived a very  hostile  reception  at  the  Cotton  Exchange.  A very 
large  proportion  of  the  nine  thousand  members  were  present. 


BUCKET  SHOPS. 

If  the  legitimate  exchange  presents  features  worthy  of  con- 
demnation, what  shall  be  said  of  those  veritable  plague  spots 
upon  the  body  commercial,  those  festering  cancers  which  eat 
into  the  very  heart  of  social  morals — the  “bucket  shops?” 

These  institutions  are  peculiar  to  American  cities.  A 
“ bucket  shop  ” is  an  establishment  where  those  whose  inclina- 
tions prompt  them  to  speculate  in  stocks  or  produce,  but  the 
scantiness  of  whose  means  forbids  their  operating  on  an  exten- 
sive scale,  may  gratify  their  tastes  by  risking  (and  losing)  the 
few  dollars  which  they  can  ill  afford  to  spare.  The  epithet 
“ bucket  ” is  a term  of  derision,  having  been  originally  applied  to 


106 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


such  an  institution  to  imply  that  a customer  might  buy  or  sell 
a “ bucketful  ” of  any  commodity  which  he  might  select. 

Far  different  is  the  scene  here  presented  from  that  witnessed 
on  the  floor  of  the  great  Exchange.  There  all  was  clamour  and 
apparent  confusion ; here  quiet  and  decorum  reign  supreme. 
The  silence  is  unbroken,  save  by  the  sharp  tick  of  the  telegraphic 
instrument  and  the  droning  monotone  of  the  blackboard  marker. 
Yet  there  is  one  point  of  resemblance  between  the  habitues  of 
the  “ bucket  shop,”  the  dealers  on  ’Change  and  the  patrons  of 
the  gaming  hell ; one  and  all,  they  win  without  displaying  exul- 
tation and  lose  without  manifesting  regret.  In  the  “ bucket 
shops,”  however,  the  attentive  observer  may  sometimes  hear  the 
heavy  sigh  of  despair  from  the  young  man  who  has  been  tempted 
to  risk  his  employer’s  money,  as  he  perceives  the  last  dollar  of 
his  margin  swept  away  by  an  unlucky  turn  of  prices;  or  witness 
a senile  smile  of  satisfaction  momentarily  gleam  upon  the  face 
of  the  feeble  old  man  who  sees  himself  about  to  be  provided  with 
the  means  of  keeping  soul  and  body  together  for  another  day. 
O,  wretched  picture  of  sordid  greed,  of  fallacious  hopes,  of  blank 
despair ! O,  sad  illustration  of  the  sadder  truth  that  in  the  con- 
tract for  the  mastery  of  the  heart  of  man,  the  evil  too  often  out- 
strips the  good ! 

But  let  us  examine  the  business  methods  of  the  proprietors 
of  these  resorts  where  gambling  is  made  easy,  and  ruin  is  placed 
within  reach  of  the  humblest.  As  an  illustration,  let  us  suppose 
that  the  customer  wishes  to  speculate  in  some  stock,  say  !Mis- 
souri,  Kansas  and  Texas.  The  blackboard  shows  the  fluctuations 
in  quotations  as  they  occur  on  the  New  York  Exchange.  The 
margin  which  he  is  called  upon  to  advance,  is  one  dollar  per 
share,  and  he  may  limit  his  transactions  to  ten  shares,  if  he  sees 
fit.  It  is  a matter  of  indifference  to  the  proprietor  whether  he 
elects  to  buy  or  sell ; that  obliging  individual  Avill  accommodate 
himself  to  his  wishes,  whatever  they  may  be.  Suppose  that  he 
buys  ten  shares  of  the  stock  in  question,  at  a moment  when  it  is 
quoted  at  16.  If  it  rises  to  1714  may.  if  he  chooses 
close  his  deal,  receiving  back  the  ten  dollars  which  he  advanced 
as  margin,  together  with  another  ten  dollars,  the  latter  represent- 
ing his  profit.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  it  drops  to  lo^^,  he  loses 
his  margin,  It  is  easy  to  see  that  such  a transaction  as  this  is 
nothing  but  a bet,  pure  and  simple. 

The  illustration  given  above  is  drawn  from  the  smallest  de- 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


107 


scription  of  business  done.  Yet  these  dens  of  iniquity  are  patron- 
ized by  the  wealthy  merchant,  as  well  as  by  the  poor  mechanic 
and  clerk.  It  is  on  the  poorer  class  of  customers  that  the  pro- 
prietors depend  for  their  steady  income;  it  is  from  the  wealthier 
customers  that  they  obtain  sums  of  money  which  they  denomi- 
nate “ plums.” 

While  in  Oil  City,  Pa.,  some  time  ago,  I visited  the  bucket 
shops  and  particularly  noticed  some  of  the  operations.  A specu- 
lator would  give  an  order  to  buy  or  sell  a certain  stock  at  a given 
figure,  but  for  some  reason  or  other  that  particular  figure  would 
not  be  c|uoted,  but  one  higher  or  lower,  as  the  case  may  be, 
would  be  quoted,  thus  compelling  the  speculator  to  either  take 
the  deal  at  their  figure  or  not  at  all.  This  was  done  time  after 
time.  Sometimes  an  order  would  be  put  in  to  close  a deal  at  a 
certain  figure,  and  the  operator  would  go  to  the  ticker  to  send 
the  message,  but  would  suddenly  get  busy  and  chalk  a number 
of  quotations  on  the  board,  and  then  tell  the  speculator  that  he 
was  too  late.  They  have  quite  a knack  of  withholding  quotations 
for  a considerable  while,  and  then  chalking  them  the  whole 
length  of  the  board.  In  one  of  these  places  I noticed  an  old  man 
who  had  made  a deal  in  corn.  The  market  was  going  against 
him,  and  he  had  to  put  up  three  margins.  I remember  when  he 
put  up  the  last  ten  dollar  bill.  The  next  morning  he  did  not  put 
in  an  appearance,  and  it  proved  to  be  the  last  time  he  ever  played 
the  market,  for  in  a few  weeks  he  was  dead.  He  was  a poor  man, 
and  it  was  probably  the  last  money  he  ever  possessed.  In  these 
“ bucket  shops  ” the  “ chair-warmers  ” and  “ pikers  ” would  pass 
away  the  time  by  playing  California  jack  for  from  five  cents  to 
one  dollar  a game.  Then  there  would  be  bets  on  the  hourly 
number  of  sales.  Another  class  of  speculators  would  bet  on  the 
rise  or  fall  of  certain  stock  for  a point.  In  fact,  they  are  nothing 
but  gambling  hells  of  the  worst  kind. 

The  manner  in  which  traders  are  fleeced  by  the  unscrupu- 
lous scoundrels  who  conduct  “ bucket  shops  ” may  be  illustrated 
as  follows : One  of  them  will  inform  a confiding  patron  that  he 
has  received  information  from  a source  which  he  regards  as 
trustworthy,  that  some  inactive  stock — perhaps  Western  LTnion 
— then  selling  at  84,  is  about  to  rise.  At  this  suggestion  the  cus- 
tomer purchases,  let  us  say,  15,000  shares  on  a margin  of  one  dol- 
lar per  share.  This  done,  the  proprietor  of  the  “ bucket  shop  ” 
telegraphs  to  a broker  to  “ sell  3,000  Western  Union — quick. 


108 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


quick,”  in  blocks  of  from  83%  to  83.  The  broker  who  receives 
the  dispatch,  either  alone  or  with  assistance,  offers  the  stock; 
the  offer  is  promptly  accepted  by  another  broker,  to  whom  the 
wily  manager  has  telegraphed  instructions  to  buy  the  stock  at 
the  price  named.  The  final  quotation,  83,  fixes  the  price,  and  the 
sale  is  promptly  reported  to  the  bucket  shop  by  telegraph.  The 
result  is  that  the  too  trustful  customer’s  $15,000  advanced  as 
margin,  is  swept  into  the  coffers  of  the  daring  rascal  who  has  per- 
petrated the  fraud,  and  whose  only  outlay  is  the  payment  of  one- 
fourth  of  a cent  commission  on  fictitious  sale  and  purchase. 

Let  us  take  another  illustration,  drawn  from  a suppositious 
transaction  in  wheat.  The  speculator  perceives  from  the  quota- 
tions on  the  blackboard  that  some  future  delivery  of  wheat 
opened  at  86bG  Every  minute  or  two  new  quotations  are 
shown  on  the  board,  the  apparent  tendency  of  the  market  being 
upward.  He  also  sees  that  during  the  preceding  hour  the  price 
has  been  as  high  as  86%,  and  as  low  as  86.  When  it  touches  86 
again  he  concludes  to  buy,  guessing  that  it  is  likely  to  rise.  Ac- 
cordingly he  purchases  1,000  bushels  at  that  price,  advancing  ten 
dollars  as  a margin.  Perhaps  the  next  change  is  an  advance  to 
86%.  He  might  now  sell  out  without  loss,  as  the  % in  his 
favor  amounts  to  exactly  the  commission  charged  by  the  shop. 
The  next  quotation  is,  say  86,  and  the  following  one  85%.  If 
it  should  continue  to  fall  until  85%  is  touched,  he  is  said  to  be 
‘‘frozen  out,”  inasmuch  as  the  decline  of  % added  to  the 
brokerage  charged  by  the  proprietor,  equals  the  ten  dollars 
which  he  has  advanced.  Perhaps  he  concludes  to  “re-margin,” 
in  which  case  he  will  put  up  ten  dollars  more.  Possibly  the 
market  may  now  take  an  upward  turn  and  rise  until  86%  is 
again  reached.  It  is  now  within  his  power  to  close  the  transac- 
tion without  loss  other  than  that  involved  in  the  payment  of  the 
commissions.  Let  us  suppose  that  he  does  so.  It  is  quite  prob- 
able that  it  will  now  occur  to  him  that  the  market  is  likely  again 
to  recede,  and  he  accordingly  sells  1,000  bushels  at  86%,  once 
more  advancing  ten  dollars  as  a margin.  If  the  price  continues 
to  rise  until  87  is  reached,  our  venturesome  speculator  is  again 
“ frozen  out,”  and  is  ten  dollars  lighter  in  pocket. 

The  above  supposed  cases  are  fair  illustrations  of  the  aver- 
age bucket  shop  trading.  A majority  of  the  patrons  of  these  es- 
tablishments are  “ scalpers,”  satisfied  if  they  can  win  five.  ten.  or 
twenty  dollars,  and  close  observers  say  that  fully  seven  out  of 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


109 


ten  guess  the  market  wrong.  The  shop  always  makes  its  regular 
' commission,  no  matter  what  may  be  the  result  of  the  transac- 
I tion.  “ Puts,”  “ calls  ” and  “ straddles  ” are  also  sold  at  these 
I places,  although,  of  course  on  a far  smaller  scale  than  by  mem- 
j bers  of  the  regular  exchanges. 

Such  is  the  commercial  exchange  of  to-day,  and  such  the 
■ fungus-like  excrescence  which  is  its  off-shoot.  Call  these  prac- 
tices which  have  been  here  described  by  what  name  you  will, 
plain,  unvarnished  truth  stamps  them  as  gambling  on  a gigantic 
scale  and  in  one  of  its  deadliest  forms.  And  yet  the  State  holds 
over  them  the  protecting  aegis  of  the  law,  and  the  community  at 
large  gives  them  the  moral  support  of  its  approving  smile.  For 
the  avowed  professional  gambler  there  is  no  place  in  the  political 
edifice.  In  the  eye  of  society  he  is  a pariah  ; in  that  of  the  law 
a culprit;  in  that  of  the  church  a moral  leper.  Yet  the  heartless 
operator  who  deliberates  long  and  earnestly  how  he  may  speedily 
and  surely  accomplish  the  ruin  of  the  man  for  whom  he  professes 
the  sincerest  friendship ; for  the  selfish  speculator  who  passes 
toilsome  days  and  sleepless  nights  in  devising  schemes  for 
forcing  up  the  price  of  the  necessaries  of  life ; for  the  far-seeing 
scoundrel  who  concocts  a cunningly  devised  scheme  for  wrecking 
a railroad  in  Avhose  stock,  it  may  be,  are  invested  the  funds  on 
which  the  widow  and  the  orphan  depend  for  subsistence — for 
these  men,  society  has  no  condemnation,  the  law  no  terrors,  and 
the  pulpit  no  denunciation.  They  build  churches  and  found 
colleges ; they  preside  at  public  gatherings  and  occupy  posts  of 
honor  upon  public  committees.  It  is  a trite  aphorism  that  “ noth- 
ing succeeds  like  success,”  and  no  more  apt  illustration  of  its 
truth  can  be  given  than  the  adulation  bestowed  upon  men  whose 
fortunes  have  been  cemented  b}^  the  groans  of  the  unfortunate, 
and  the  tears  of  the  widow.  Of  a truth  it  is  time  that  society 
placed  the  seal  of  its  disapproval  upon  gambling  openly  con- 
ducted in  marble  palaces  as  emphatically  as  upon  the  same  vice 
carried  on  behind  darkened  windows  and  barred  doors.  In  this, 
as  in  every  other  great  moral  reform,  much  depends  upon  the  at- 
titude and  influence  of  the  clergy,  who,  as  a body,  have  hitherto 
kept  silent  as  to  the  crying  evil  spread  out  before  them. 

The  idea  of  the  inception  of  the  exchange  was  grand  in  its 
scope.  Such  organizations  have  a lofty  mission,  and  it  is  within 
their  power  to  encourage  commerce,  to  promote  honesty  in 
trade,  and  to  advance  the  best  interests  of  the  State.  When  an 


110 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


enlightened  public  sentiment  shall  compel  the  elimination  from 
them  of  those  baleful  features  which  have  been  here  portrayed, 
when  the  pure  gold  of  legitimate  traffic  shall  have  been  separated 
from  the  dross  of  illegitimate  speculation,  when  the  revival  of  a 
healthful  moral  tone  shall  have  averted  the  danger  which  now 
menaces  us,  that  through  the  influence  and  example  of  the  ex- 
change we  shall  become  a nation  of  gamblers,  then  no  longer 
shall  phantoms  haunt  the  imagination  and  fallacies  pervert  the 
judgment  of  men ; but  there  shall  rise  t:pon  the  eye  of  the  world 
the  lineaments  of  a republic  far  transcending  the  loftiest  con- 
ceptions of  Plato ; a republic  of  wdiich  poets  have  dreamed  and 
which  prophets  have  foreshadowed ; the  flowerage  of  centuries ; 
the  bloom  and  perfume  of  a Christian  civilization. 


POLICY. 

Policy  as  now  run  is  anything  but  a square  deal  with  its  ; 
victims.  We  will  assume  that  there  are  75  numbers  issued  each 
day  from  the  head  office.  They  are  sent  out  to  agents,  who  are  ' 
either  barbers  or  saloon  keepers.  Some  have  small  rooms  in  un-  ; 
frequented  alleys  or  lanes,  but  of  the  latter  class  there  are  very 
few  now.  The  policy  buyer  chooses  his  numbers  in  many  differ- 
ent ways.  Some  who  have  been  inveterate  followers  of  this 
mode  of  gambling  rely  on  dreams,  others  depend  on  some  little  | 
incident  by  which  certain  numbers  are  brought  to  their  mind,  i 
some  shake  dice,  and  there  are  a thousand  different  ways  in  j 
which  the  policy  gambler  guesses  the  lucky  number.  AMien  he 
pays  for  them  he  pa3's  anywhere  from  five  cents  to  ten  dollars  a 
number,  as  his  pocket  money  will  allow ; it  makes  no  diff’erence 
to  the  agent.  When  the  result  of  the  draAvings  are  made  known 
the  lucky  numbers  are  printed  on  the  slips  of  paper,  and  if  any 
one  of  the  numbers  held  by  the  buyer  appears  three  times  in  the 
list  he  wins  ten  times  the  amount  he  pays  for  his  number.  Policy 
agents  are  now  scarce,  but  what  are  termed  “ bookmakers,”  or 
solicitors  are  more  numerous.  These  men  are  A’irtually  sub- 
agents, and  are  usually  salaried. 

Winners  in  policy  are  few  and  far  between,  but  there  seems 
to  be  a sort  of  mania  for  it  among  a certain  class,  which  grows 
stronger  the  longer  they  deal  in  it.  With  some  business  men  it  be- 
comes a hobby,  which  they  fall  into  in  a quiet  and  almost  uncon- 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


Ill 


scious  manner,  but  it  is  seldom  played  by  any  but  men  of  small 
means,  in  fact,  it  is  impossible  to  learn  of  a single  case  where  a 
wealthy  man  has  been  known  to  buy  policy  tickets.  Bookmakers 
can  generally  be  found  in  saloons  and  concert  halls,  and  around 


THE  ONLY  GENUINE 

VENDOR’S  CERTIFICATE. 

REGISTER  NO CLASS  No.  

1 88 

Compare  Ticket  with  OfScial  Drawing. 

THE  POOL. 


Register Class 


theatre  entrances.  The  regular  buyer  is  quick  to  discover  his 
business,  and  his  purchase  is  made  quietly  and  secretly.  De- 
tectives are  constantly  on  the  watch  for  these  transactions,  and 
should  any  mysterious  movement  be  made  by  two  men  on  the 
street,  which  would  give  rise  to  the  suspicion  that  they  were  pol- 
icy men,  they  are  carefully  shadowed  until  caught.  After  once  be- 
ing caught  they  are  interviewed  by  the  officials,  and  ever  after 


112 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


made  objects  for  surveillance.  Thus  in  a measure  they  are  fugi- 
tives and  outcasts  from  all  society.  Still,  their  calling  is  a lucra- 
tive one,  often  netting  the  bookmaker  $15  a day,  and  they  become 
wealthy  in  time. 

Church  fairs  are  frequent  in  many  localities.  At  one  fair 
held  for  a whole  week,  the  proceeds  were  devoted  to  paying  the 
floating  debt  on  a Music  Hall.  There  were  offered  1,500  prizes, 
the  bait  consisting  of  $1,000,  $500  and  $100  in  gold,  an  $800 
piano,  and  the  rest  of  the  prizes  being  pictures,  barrels  of  flour 
and  cement,  etc.  The  entertainments  offered  were  upon  the 
drawing  of  prizes,  and  drew  a crowd  of  40,000  and  upward 
nightly.  The  tickets  sold  for  $1,  and  entitled  the  buyer  to  three 
admissions  to  the  hall  and  a chance — one  in  nearly  50,000 — to 
draw  a prize.  About  48,000  tickets  were  sold  and  the  fair  netted 
$46,000.  Since  then,  say  the  lottery  agents,  their  sale  of  tickets 
have  largely  increased. 

It  seems  strange — or  rather,  it  would  seem  strange  were  it 
not  so  common  an  experience — that  citizens  who  profess  to  be, 
and  no  doubt  are  sincerely  opposed  to  lotteries  on  principle, 
should  indirectly  give  them  moral  and  material  aid  and  support 
by  lending  their  countenance  to  schemes  of  this  nature.  The 
support  of  church  and  other  raffles,  gotten  up  in  aid  of  charity  or 
gift  enterprises,  undertaken  for  any  purpose,  however  Avorthy, 
can  be  justified  only  by  a species  of  moral  casuistry.  The  altar 
does  not  “ sanctify  the  gift,”  and  the  line  of  moral  demarcation 
between  the  lottery  for  benevolence  and  the  lottery  for  gain,  is 
rather  shadowy.  The  inherent  scruple  as  to  buying  chances 
having  been  remoA^ed,  it  is  but  one  step  farther,  and  that  a short 
one,  to  the  lottery  office  and  the  policy  shop. 


THE  GAMBLER’S  WIFE. 


By  Regnel  Coates. 

Dark  is  the  night.  How  dark!  no  light!  no  fire! 

Cold  on  the  hearth,  the  last  faint  sparks  expire! 

Shivering,  she  watches  by  the  cradle  side. 

For  him  who  pledged  her  love  last  year  a bride! 

Hark!  ’tis  his  footsteps!  no!  ’tis  past!  ’tis  gone! 

Tick!  tick!  how  wearily  the  time  crowds  on! 

Why  should  he  leave  me  thus?  He  once  was  kind! 

And  I believed  ’twould  last!  How  mad!  How  blind! 

Rest  thee  my  hope!  Rest  on!  ’Tis  hunger’s  cry! 

Sleep!  for  there  is  no  food!  The  fount  is  dry! 

Famine  and  cold  their  wearying  work  have  done. 

My  heart  must  break!  and  then  the  clock  strikes  one. 

Hush!  ’Tis  the  dice-box!  yes,  he’s  there!  he’s  there! 

For  this!  for  this  he  leaves  me  to  despair? 

Leaves  love,  leaves  truth!  his  wife!  his  child!  for  what? 

The  wanton’s  smile — the  villain  and  the  sot! 

Yet  I’ll  not  curse  him.  No!  ’tis  all  in  vain! 

’Tis  long  to  wait,  but  sure  he’ll  come  again! 

And  I could  starve  and  bless  him  but  for  you. 

My  child!  his  child!  oh,  fiend,  the  clock  strikes  two. 

Hark!  How  the  signboard  creaks,  the  blast  howls  by; 

Moan!  moan!  a dirge  swells  through  the  cloudy  sky. 

Ho!  ’tis  his  knock:  he  comes!  he  comes  once  more! 

’Tis  but  the  lattice  flops!  thy  hope  is  o’er! 

Can  he  desert  us  thus?  He  knows  I stay. 

Night  after  night  in  coldness  to  pray. 

For  his  return — and  yet — he  sees  no  tear! 

No!  no!  it  cannot  be,  he  will  be  here! 

Nestle  more  closely,  dear  one  to  _my  heart. 

Thou  art  cold;  thou  art  freezing;  but  we  will  not  part; 
Husband!  I die!  Father!  It  is  not  he! 

O God,  protect  my  child!  the  clock  strikes  three. 

They  are  gone!  they  are  gone!  the  glimmering  spark  hath  fled! 

The  wife  and  child  are  numbered  with  the  dead! 

On  the  cold  hearth;  outstretched  in  solemn  rest. 

The  child  lies  sleeping  on  the  mother’s  breast. 

The  gambler  comes  at  last! 

But  all  was  o’er; 

Dead  silence  reigned  around 
When  the  clock  struck  four. 

113 


DICE  AND  THE  DICE  BOX. 


The  origin  of  dice  is  shrouded  in  obscurity,  but  it  is  certain 
that  their  use  has  come  down  to  modern  days  from  a period  of 
remote  antiquity.  Dice  throwing  has  always  been  one  of  the 
most  popular  forms  of  gaming,  and  in  days  gone  by  immense 
fortunes  have  been  staked  and  lost  upon  the  throwing  of  the 
cubes.  At  the  present  day,  judging  from  the  various  new  con- 
trivances being  manufactured  for  the  use  of  dice,  it  would  still 
seem  to  be  a very  popular  form  of  amusement. 

Dice  are  among  the  time-honored  tools  of  the  “professional.” 
The  honor  of  their  invention  is  ascribed  to  the  Egyptians,  and  in 
some  of  the  bas-reliefs  that  have  been  disinterred  in  the  land  of 
the  Pharaohs,  figures  playing  with  something  closely  resembling 
dice  are  discernible.  The  Ethiops  of  three  or  four  thousand 
years  ago  were,  it  is  believed,  addicted  to  gaming  of  this  sort, 
and  in  this  connection  it  may  be  remarked  that  gambling  is  quite 
as  much  a barbaric  as  a civilized  vice.  In  fact  it  may  be  ques- 
tioned whether  the  Troglodytes  did  not  gamble  in  their  caves, 
and  swindle  one  another  out  of  the  spoils  of  the  chase  before 
they  had  learned  to  construct  huts  in  which  to  live. 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  describe  all  the  games  of  dice 
which  may  be  played,  but  to  explain  those  most  commonly  used 
by  sharpers  to  defraud  the  ignorant,  and  to  show  some  of  the 
more  modern  games  now  in  vogue. 

Chuck-a-Luck.  This  is  a simple  little  game  of  dice,  yet  one 
of  the  most  fascinating  of  all  games  of  chance.  It  is  sometimes 
designated  as  “ the  old  army  game,”  for  the  reason  that  soldiers 
at  the  front  Avere  often  rvont  to  beguile  the  tedium  of  a biA'ouac 
by  seeking  relief  from  monotony  in  its  charms. 

The  outfit  requisite  to  play  the  game  is  so  simple  and  inex- 
pensive, consisting  of  three  small  dice,  a dice  box,  and  a cloth 

114 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


115 


on  which  are  inscribed  the  numbers  one  to  six,  corresponding  to 
the  dots  or  “ pips,”  on  the  six  faces  of  the  cubes. 

Bets  are  made  by  placing  the  money  wagered  on  the  num- 


bers on  the  cloth.  The  dice,  having  be’en  placed  in  the  box,  are 
shaken  and  thrown  upon  the  table.  Bets  made  upon  either  of 
the  three  numbers^which  come  uppermost  are  won  by  the  play- 
ers. Money  staked  on  either  of  the  remaining  numbers  are  won 
by  the  bank. 

On  its  face,  this  game  appears  to  be  one  of  pure  chance.  As 
played  upon  fair  and  circus  grounds,  however,  there  is  very  little 
chance  about  it.  The  “ banker  ” does  not  throw  the  dice  fairly. 
Through  long  practice,  he  is  able  to  retain  two  of  them  between 
the  fingers  of  the  hand  which  he  holds  over  the  inverted  dice  box. 
The  other  die  he  allows  to  remain  in  the  box,  and  rattles  it 
against  the  sides,  occasionally  knocking  the  box  itself  against  the 
button  of  his  coat  in  order  to  simulate  the  sound  produced  by  the 
shaking  of  three  dice.  When  he  removes  his  hand  from  the 
mouth  of  the  dice  cup,  he  drops  upon  the  table  the  two  dice 
which  he  held  in  his  hand  and  permits  the  third  die  to  fall  by 
chance.  The  reader  will  readily  perceive  how  great  is  the  unfair 
advantage  thus  obtained. 

Hyronemus.  This  is,  perhaps,  one  of  the  most  successful 
games  of  dice — considered  from  the  standpoint  of  the  operator — 
known  to  the  gambling  fraternit3^ 

The  illustration  affords  a view  of  all  the  paraphernalia  em- 
ployed in  conducting  it,  as  it  Avas  played  until  more  recent  years. 
The  use  of  electricity  has  caused  the  necessity  for  changes  in  the 
equipment,  but  the  method  of  play  is  the  same.  On  a cloth- 
covered  table  rests  an  inverted  tambourine,  above  which  stands 
an  implement  substantially  of  the  form  depicted  in  the  cut.  The 
latter  maj"  be  best  described  as  consisting  of  two  wooden  bowls, 
the  smaller  ends  of  which  are  placed  opposite  each  other  and 


IIG 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


connected  by  a hollow  tube  as  shown  in  the  diagram.  On  the 
cloth  which  covers  the  table  are  painted  numbers  from  one  to  six. 
Three  dice  are  used  in  playing,  differing  from  ordinary  dice,  only 
in  being  larger  and  in  having  figures  painted  on  the  faces,  instead 
of  the  small  black  dots  commonly  employed. 

The  mode  of  playing  is  as  follows : Players  select  the  num- 
ber or  numbers  on  which  they  wish  to  bet,  and  place  their  wagers 
on  the  corresponding  squares  on  the  cloth.  The  dice  are  then 


placed  in  the  upper  bowl  and  permitted  to  drop  through  the  tube, 
and  fall  upon  the  tambourine,  directly  under  the  inverted  bowl. 
The  bowl  is  then  raised,  and  if  the  bettor  happens  to  have  placed 
his  stake  on  the  number  appearing  on  one  of  the  upper  faces  of 
the  cubes,  he  wins  the  amount  of  his  bet.  If  the  number  which 
he  selected  appears  on  two  of  their  faces,  the  proprietor  of  the 
bowl  pays  him  double.  If  the  three  dice  all  show  the  same  num- 
ber and  he  has  happened  to  place  his  wager  thereon,  the  operator 
pays  him  three  to  one. 

The  “ percentage  ” against  the  players  in  this  game  is  so 
large  that  the  proprietors  are  ordinarily  content  to  play  it  on  the 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


117 


“ square.”  It  sometimes  happens,  however,  that  the  operation 
of  the  recognized  laws  of  chance  seems  to  be  reversed,  and  a 
player  wins  over  and  over  again.  Of  course,  this  is  not  to  be 
tolerated.  The  proprietor  of  the  game  is  running  it  for  his  own 
pecuniary  profit;  the  idea  of  conducting  a scheme  for  the  bene- 


Hyronemus  Tub  and  Layout. 


fit  of  the  general  public  has  never  occurred  to  him.  Sometimes 
instead  of  taking  all  three  dice  from  the  tambourine,  he  removes 
only  two,  thus  retaining  a knowledge  of  at  least  one  of  the  win- 
ning numbers.  I have  also  known  a device  of  this  kind  to  be 
resorted  to.  When  a certain  number  is  winning  repeatedly,  the 
operator,  having  (apparently  by  accident)  knocked  the  dice  off 
the  table,  while  stooping  to  pick  them  up  will  substitute  another 
set  of  three  cubes,  none  of  which  contains  the  tubes  in  question. 


118 


GAMBLING  AND  GAAIBLING  DEVICES. 


But  the  most  contemptible  form  of  swindling  consists  in 
replacing  the  tambourine  by. a thin  board,  which  may  be  so  agi- 
tated, by  means  of  a concealed  spring,  as  to  overturn  the  dice 
after  the  manipulator  has  ascertained  the  numbers  shown  by 
looking  through  the  tube. 

Sometimes  the  operator  provides  himself  with  dice  having 
all  the  faces  marked  with  the  same  number,  by  substituting  one 
or  more  of  which  he  is  able  to  cast  whatever  throw  he  pleases. 


The  Electric  Tub,  as  shown  in  the  illustration,  is  one  of  the 
latest  inventions,  and  is  used  for  hyronemus,  chuck-a-luck,  and 
for  all  kinds  of  hazard  games.  It  makes  the  game  a sure  winner 
for  the  operator,  and  large  amounts  of  money  are  staked  on  this 
game.  It  is  expected  to  supersede,  in  the  near  future,  the  cage 
and  all  other  devices. 

The  dice  are  made  to  come  treys  or  fours,  at  will,  without 
touching  dice  at  any  time. 

The  tub  can  be  controlled  without  fear  of  detection. 

This  device  has  been  made  expressly  for  the  use  of  privilege 
men  who  follow  the  fairs  and  circuses.  iMany  of  the  public  parks 
and  resorts  are  found  to  be  desirable  locations  for  the  running 
of  this  game.  The  operator  generally  gets  into  some  shady 
nook  or  qv;iet  corner,  where  he  can  run  his  " shady  ’’  game  with- 
out fear  of  molestation.  The  “ suckers  ” find  this  much  to  their 
advantage,  as  they  do  not  generally  desire  to  play  against  these 
games  in  full  view  of  the  public. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


119 


The  cage  is  operated  by  turning  the  handle,  thus  causing  the 
cage  to  swing  around,  when  the  operator  bringing  it  to  a stop, 
the  dice  settle,  and  the  numbers  counted.  The  wins  and  losses 
are  counted  the  same  as  on  the  other  forms  of  hyronemus. 

This  machine  can  also  be  used  with  electrical  attachment. 


The  Jumbo  Cage. 


When  using  an  outfit  of  this  kind  it  is  impossible  for  the  players 
on  the  outside  to  beat  the  one  running  the  game,  even  though 
they  are  permitted  to  “ double-up.”  The  electric  magnet  is 
placed  in  a money  drawer  that  can  be  placed  under  any  table  and 
the  cage  can  be  set  up  directly  over  it.  Of  course  electric  dice 
must  be  used  with  these  magnets. 

Klondike.  In  this  game  the  player  tries  to  beat  a pair  of 
sixes  with  one  throw  of  two  dice,  and  also  tries  to  beat  the  game- 
keeper. 


120 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


Sometimes  the  game  is  played  with  five  dice.  The  player 
bets  the  gamekeeper  that  he  will  beat  his  throw,  or  he  can  bet 
the  opposite.  Shovdd  the  player  throw  a straight  or  ties,  the 
gamekeeper  takes  the  money.  This  is  the  percentage  the  house 
claims  for  itself. 

The  layout  is  spread  on  top  of  a table  and  the  battery,  when 
one  is  used,  is  placed  under  the  table.  Sometimes  a copper  wire 
runs  down  through  the  leg  of  the  table  and  is  bent  over  the 
bottom  end  of  the  leg.  The  table  is  then  set  in  such  a position 


that  the  leg  rests  on  a brass  screw  in  the  floor  and  the  circuit  is 
completed,  the  current  being  supplied  through  the  screw  and 
copper  wire.  It  is  a simple  matter  to  lift  the  table  and  show 
that  it  has  no  wire  connections,  in  case  any  one  expresses  a 
doubt  as  to  the  fairness  of  the  game,  but  it  is  only  necessary  to 
replace  the  leg  on  the  head  of  the  screw  to  be  in  a position  to 
continue  the  electric  control  of  the  dice. 

In  this  game  the  dice  are  made  to  come  sixes  when  the  cur- 
rent is  on,  thus  giving  the  banker  the  highest  possible  hand ; the 
aces  turn  up  when  the  current  is  off,  as  the  lead  load  is  set  in 
the  dice  right  back  of  the  sixes,  thus  causing  the  sixes  to  rest 
down,  and  the  opposite  side,  the  aces,  to  rest  up  when  the  current 
is  not  applied. 

Loaded  Dice.  Although  many  kinds  of  loaded  dice  are  used, 
there  are  comparatively  few  among  the  guild  of  professional 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


131 


gamblers  who  are  experts  in  their  use.  The  sharper  who  does 
not  travel,  preferring  to  wait,  at  home,  such  victims  as  the  anti- 
podes of  Providence  may  send  him,  is  satisfied  with  employing 
occasionally,  a set  of  high  dice.  But  the  peripatetic  scoundrel 
who,  like  Satan,  “ wanders  to  and  fro  upon  the  earth,”  seeking 
for  victims,  usually  provides  himself  with  three  sets — one  “ high,” 
one  “ low,”  and  one  ” square.”  The  fraudulent  dice  are  loaded 
with  quicksilver,  the  interior  of  each  dice  being  hollowed  out  in 
such  a manner  as  to  cause  the  weight  to  fall  upon  the  opposite 


Klondike  Layout. 

side  to  that  intended  to  come  up,  the  weighted  side  being,  of 
course,  always  undermost. 

The  professional,  in  using  these  dice  against  a single  ad- 
versary, usually  works  very  rapidly,  distracting  the  dupe’s  atten- 
tion, as  far  as  possible,  from  his  operations  by  story  telling  or 
some  other  interesting  conversation.  He  changes  the  cubes 
swiftly  and  often,  “ ringing  in  ” the  “ high  ” ones  for  himself,  and 
the  “ square  ” ones  for  his  opponent  or  the  latter  for  himself  and 
the  “ low  ” ones  for  his  victim,  occasionally,  however,  using  the 
fair  dice  for  both,  in  order  to  disarm  suspicion. 

Craps.  This  is  a favorite  game  among  steamboat  men,  and 
is  particularly  popular  among  colored  people.  I first  became  ac- 
quainted with  it  on  board  the  steamboat  “ City  of  Chester  ” on 
the  Mississippi  river.  I was  travelling  in  partnership  with  a man 
named  Martin,  and  we  had  succeeded  in  fleecing  one  man  out  of 
some  $800  at  poker,  in  the  cabin.  I went  out  on  deck,  and  my 
attention  was  arrested  by  hearing  a negro  crying  in  a stentorian 
voice,  “ come  I'  or  11,”  then  another  man  calling  out,  “ chill’en 


122 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


cryin’  fo’  bread.”  This  was  followed  by  the  sound  of  something 
rolling  on  the  floor.  My  curiosity  was  aroused,  and  I went  below 
to  learn  what  was  going  on.  Here  I first  saw  the  game  of 
“ craps  ” and  my  introduction  to  it  cost  me  precisely  $15.  I went 
upstairs  and  informed  my  partner  that  I had  discovered  a new 
game.  He  was  anxious  to  see  it,  and  together  we  returned  to  the 
main  deck  where  the  game  was  in  progress.  He  dropped  $10  to 
the  “ crap  ” roller,  expressed  himself  as  satisfied,  and  we  returned 
to  the  cabin.  I did  not  at  the  time  understand  how  I was 


cheated,  although  I was  perfectly  well  satisfied  that  the  cheating  j 
had  been  done.  Since  then,  I have  discovered  all  about  it.  ] 

The  game  is  played  with  dice  about  half  the  size  of  the  ! 
cubes  ordinarily  used  in  other  games.  Only  two  are  employed  j 
and  they  are  held  in  the  hand  and  thrown  forward  upon  the  table  | 
or  whatever  surface  may  be  convenient.  The  numbers  7 and  11  ■ 

are  called  “ craps.”  After  the  dice  have  ceased  rolling  the  spots  : 
on  both  sides  are  added  together,  and  if  the  sum  is  equal  to  7 or  i 
11,  the  “ crap  ” thrower  wins  all  bets  which  have  been  made 
against  him.  If  the  same  amount  to  two,  three,  or  twelve,  he 
loses,  and  is  required  to  pay  each  player  the  amount  of  his  stake. 
Should  the  sum  of  all  the  spots  on  the  two  dice  amount  to  four, 
five,  six,  eight,  nine  or  ten,  he  is  entitled  to  continue  throwing, 
until  he  has  either  cast  the  amount  thrown  again,  or  throw  a 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


123 


n\2.:  II,  12^^ 

\c^  FiE:LDV^;:> 


seven.  In  the  former  case  he  wins  the  player’s  bets ; if,  however, 
the  sum  of  the  spots  amount  to  7 before  the  number  first  thrown 
turns  up  again,  he  loses. 

The  game  commences  by 
one  player  throwing  the  dice 
until  he  loses,  when  the  next 
player  at  his  left  takes  the 
cubes,  and  so  on  in  rotation. 

The  favorite  method  of 
cheating  at  this  game  is  by  the 
substitution  of  unfair  dice.  For 
this  purpose,  loaded  dice  are 
sometimes  used,  and  some- 
times dice  specially  prepared, 
on  the  faces  of  one  of  which, 
are  painted  two  aces,  two 
twos,  and  two  sixes,  while  the 
other  dice  is  inscribed  with 
two  threes,  two  fours  and  two 
fives.  If  the  reader  will  take 
pains  to  figure  out  the  combi- 
nation of  numbers  which  may 
be  made  with  two  dice  so  pre- 
pared, he  will  see  it  is  an  utter 
impossibility  for  the  thrower 
to  make  either  two,  three,  or 
twelve,  the  numbers  which  will 


be  a loss  to  him.  In  addition  to  this  circumstance  it  is  also  ap- 
parent that  the  chances  of  throwing  7 are  very  greatly  increased 
by  the  arrangement  of  two  fours  on  one  dice  and  two  threes  on 


124 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


the  other,  as  well  as  two  fives  on  one  and  two  twos  on  the  other. 
The  small  size  of  the  dice  employed  in  playing  this  game  and 
the  fact  that  they  are  thrown  from  the  hand,  renders  the  sub- 
stitution of  unfair  dice  a comparatively  easy  matter. 

Although  the  game,  as  I have  said,  is  an  especial  favorite 
among  negroes  and  deck-hands,  nevertheless,  it  is  frequently 
played  by  “ high  toned  ” gamblers  for  large  stakes. 

A story  is  told  of  a raid  once  made  in  Chicago,  the  players 
anticipating  interference  on  the  part  of  the  police,  had  their 
little  cubes  made  of  cut  sugar,  and  when  the  officers  of  the  law 
made  their  appearance,  swallowed  the  dice,  and  there  being  no 
gaming  implements  found,  the  case  against  them  was  necessarily 
dismissed. 

This  cut  shows  the  new  “ crap  ” dice  now 
being  produced.  “ It  is  an  invisible  double- 
shaped dice,  the  dice  being  made  to  show  ace, 
deuce  and  six,  instead  of  ace  and  six  as  in  the 
old  style ; which  gives  the  banker  much 
greater  percentage.  These  dice  are  all  made 
by  machinery,  which  makes  them  absolutely 
mechanically  correct.  A 32nd  off  with  our  process,  gets  the  re- 
sult of  a 1-16  the  ordinary  way.  These  dice  are  intended  for  a 
game  that  has  the  same  patronage  every  day.  We  guarantee 
them  to  please  you  and  at  the  same  time  to  hold  3"our  play.  5-8 
red  transparent  is  the  best  size  and  color  to  use.  Price  per 
pair,  $2.” 

Such  is  the  description  given  by  the  manufacturer.  It  is 
high  time  that  the  general  public  became  acquainted  with  the 
deception  and  fraud  that  is  being  practiced.  Presuming  that  it 
was  allowable  by  law,  to  gamble,  the  man  who  would  go  into 
a game  of  this  kind  would  naturally  want  an  even  chance  for  his 
money.  But  as  there  is  no  law  in  the  L'^nited  States  which  per- 
mits it,  and  there  are  many  laws  against  it,  I say  it  is  the  duty 
of  every  government  in  this  country  not  only  to  forbid  gam- 
bling, but  to  enact  laws  that  shall  make  it  illegal  to  manufacture 
crooked  gaming  devices  of  any  description  whatsoever. 

A “ Black-Hand  ” Game.  “ Shooting  craps  ” may  be  a ne- 
gro game,  and  pla\dng  cards  a white  man’s  game : but  neverthe- 
less the  Supreme  Court  of  the  Lone  Star  State  refuses  to  recog- 
nize an}"  such  fact.  Recently  a negro  was  fined  SIO  under  a 
statute  which  prohibits  “ shooting  craps,”  but  does  not  make  it 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


125 


an  offense  to  play  an  innocent  game  of  cards.  He  now  appeals. 
Sparks  v.  State,  142  Southwestern  Reporter,  1183.  His  conten- 
tion is  that  the  statute  is  a discrimination  against  the  negro. 
Craps,  he  claims,  is  a negro  game,  while  cards  is  a white  man’s 


Crap  Table. 


game,  and  this  the  legislature  well  knew  in  taking  this  good  old 
amusement  away  from  him,  and  therefore  the  statute  is  unconsti- 
tutional. The  court  answers : “ Appellant’s  position  is  a unique 
one,  but  we  cannot  agree  with  him.  It  is  unnecessary,  we  think, 
to  discuss  the  question.” 

Grand  Hazard.  Three  dice  are  used  in  this  game.  Some- 
times they  contain  spots,  as  do  ordinary  dice,  sometimes  on  the 


faces  are  painted  representations  of  birds,  animals,  or  reptiles, 
such  as  a horse,  an  eagle,  a rattlesnake,  etc.  On  the  table  upon 
which  the  dice  are  thrown  is  spread  a cloth  on  which  are  de- 
picted numbers  or  figures  corresponding  to  those  upon  the  faces 
of  the  cubes.  Bets  are  made  by  playing  the  stakes  upon  what- 
ever square  or  squares  the  player  may  select.  The  dice  are 
dropped  through  a funnel-shaped  cup,  as  shown  in  the  illustra- 
tions, and  the  gains  or  losses  of  the  bettors  are  determined  by 


126 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


inspecting  the  face  of  the  dice  which  lie  uppermost  after  they 
have  fallen  upon  the  table. 

If  any  player  has  wagered 
his  money,  for  instance, 
upon  the  number  six,  -and 
one  of  the  dice  shows  a six- 
spot  on  its  upper  face,  the 
bettor  is  paid  the  amount 
which  he  has  ventured.  In 
case  the  three  dice  should 
all  show  the  same  number 
or  figure  when  they  fall,  the 
proprietor  pays  to  the  bet- 
tor, who  has  placed  his  stake  upon  the  corresponding  square  on 
the  cloth,  180  for  1. 

In  this,  as  in  all  other  fraudulent  games  with  dice,  gam- 
blers resort  to  the  substitution  of  “ ringers  ” for  fair  dice,  and 


have  the  poor  fools,  who  risk  their  money  on  such  schemes, 
practically  at  their  mercy. 

Poker  Dice.  This  game  is  usually  pla3'ed  in  saloons  for 
drinks  or  cigars,  though  sometimes  for  money,  and  occasionally 
for  higher  stakes.  As  a general  rule  five  ordinary  dice  are  used, 
but  sometimes  dice  like  those  shown  in  the  accompanying  illus- 
tration, and  which  are  known  as  “ octahedron  poker  dice.”  are 
used  instead.  The  onh'  other  equipment  necessary  is  a dice  cup. 
Each  player  has  three  throws.  The  highest  score  which  can 
possibly  be  made  is  five  aces,  the  next,  five  sixes,  then  five  fives, 
and  so  on.  Next  to  five  familiar  spots,  the  best  throw  is  four 
of  one  kind  and  an  odd  number,  the  relative  value  of  such 
throws  being  measured  by  the  number  of  spots  upon  the  top  of 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


127 


the  four  dice,  aces  ranging  highest.  The  game  is  called  “ poker  ” 
dice,  because  of  the  general  resemblance  between  it  and  “ bluff,” 


so  far  as  the  value  of  the  throws  is  concerned  as  compared  with 
that  of  the  hands  held  at  poker. 

j High  and  Low  Dice  Tops.  These  little  implements  are 

used  chiefly  for  winning  drinks  or  cigars,  or  small  sums  of 
money.  They  are  eight-sided  spinning  tops  made  of  ivory,  the 
respective  sides  being  numbered  one  to  eight.  Sometimes  they 
are  made  fairly,  but  dice  tops  of  the  latter  description  are  not  in 
favor  with  the  professional  gambler,  who  uses  a top  having  a 
movable  iron  peg  which  the  sharper  may  so 
arrange  as  to  cause  the  high  or  low  numbers 
to  fall  uppermost  when  the  top  comes  to  rest, 
after  being  spun.  If  the  peg  be  turned  one 
way  a high  number  will  come  uppermost;  if 
the  other,  a low  number.  Of  course  the  green- 
horn, not  being  aware  of  this  little  peculiar- 
ity of  the  top,  it  is  comparatively  an  easy 
matter  for  the  confidence  man  or  other  cheat  to 
arrange  the  peg  in  such  a way  that  when  he 
spins  for  himself  he  turns  up  a high  number, 
and  when  his  opponent  takes  the  same  article  in  hand,  however, 
he  invariably  turns  up  a low  one.  It  may  be  seen  that  the  former 
has  it  in  his  power  to  win  as  often  as  he  chooses,  but  in  order 
that  his  luck  may  not  appear  to  be  positively  miraculous,  he 
sometimes  permits  his  dupe  to  win. 

Eight-Die  Case  or  Derby  Pool.  This  is  a favorite  game 
with  travelling  sporting  men,  who  introduce  it  at  county  fairs, 
etc.,  where  there  is  a large  crowd.  The  diagram  represents  the 
arrangement  of  the  interior  of  a glass  covered  case  showing  the 


138 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


value  of  the  prizes.  The  divisions  in  this  case  are  numbered 
from  eight  to  forty-eight,  inclusive,  to  correspond  with  the  num- 
bers which  may  possibly  be  thrown  in  casting  eight  dice,  which 
the  proprietor  carries  with  him,  together  with  a dice  box.  Eor 
a stipulated  consideration,  he  permits  any  one  who  may  wish, 
to  throw  the  dice  upon  the  glass  cover  of  the  case.  The  sum  of 
the  spots  on  the  upper  faces  is  taken,  and  the  player  is  given 
whatever  prize  the  number  may  call  for. 


Used  as  a cigar  game,  the  proprietor  usually  charges  five  or 
ten  cents  for  a throw,  according  to  locality.  The  player  may  be 
successful  in  securing  from  one  to  one  hundred  cigars,  or  he  may 
get  what  the  boy  shot  at — nothing. 

An  examination  of  the  diagram  will  show  that  the  higher 
prizes  are  invariably  placed  in  squares  corresponding  to  a num- 
ber which  it  is  almost  impossible  for  a player  to  throw.  Thus, 
a one  hundred  prize  is  placed  in  the  square  numbered  eight.  To 
win  this,  it  would  be  necessary  to  throw  eight  aces.  Those  num- 
bers which  may  be  easily  thrown  are  always  attached  to  squares 
containing  small  prizes,  or  a blank. 

This  game  is  said  to  increase  the  business  at  the  cigar  stand 
at  least  twenty-five  per  cent,  and  to  take  off  more  money  than 
any  hundred  dollar  slot  machine  ever  made. 

First  Flop  Dice  are  used  where  the  dice  are  shaken  for 
drinks,  cigars,  or  money,  specially  to  protect  the  proprietor 
against  his  customers.  A fair  deal  is  not  to  be  thought  of  in  this 
line  of  business.  He  fully  believes  that,  in  his  case,  “ Self-preser- 
vation is  one  of  the  first  laws  of  nature.”  These  dice  are  so 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


129 


“ fixed  ” that  it  is  almost  impossible  for  the  uninitiated  to  throw 

a bigger  hand  than  the 
proprietor,  he  being  able 
to  throw  the  five  aces  if 
he  so  desires. 

In  my  exhibitions  I 
challenge  the  audience  to 
compete  with  me  in 
throwing  with  the  same 
dice  and  the  same  box, 
and  offer  the  sum  of  $500 
to  any  charitable  institution  in  the  town,  my  opponent  cares  to 
name,  should  he  be  able  to  beat  me.  I have  been  offering  this 
for  the  past  twenty-six  years,  and  no  one  has  ever  been  able  to 
claim  the  money  yet. 

While  demonstrating  at  IMaskelyne  and  Devant’s,  London, 
England,  where  I was  engaged  for  ten  weeks,  giving  my  prac- 
tical demonstrations  on  crooked  gambling,  a man  from  South 
Africa  came  upon  the  stage  and  shook  dice  with  me.  After 
several  throws  he  succeeded  in  throwing  four  aces  and  a six. 
The  audience  were  all  attention  awaiting  my  next  throw.  I 
now  had  to  do  the  work  or  stand  a good  chance  of  forfeiting 
the  $500.  I took  up  the  box  and  with  a slight  turn  threw  out 
five  aces  on  the  board.  My  opponent  was  amazed.  He  asked 
me  to  throw  the  same  on  the  bare  table,  which  I was  successful 
in  doing.  Lie  then  asked  me  to  throw  on  the  floor,  which  I did, 
being  quite  willing  to  accommodate  the  gentleman.  Five  aces 
again  showed  up.  On  seeing  this  he  staggered,  and  had  to  be 
supported,  and  exclaimed,  “ My  God ! is  it  possible  that  I have 
been  robbed  of  my  money?”  He  came  to  me  and  told  me  he  had 
lost  quite  a fortune  at  dice,  and  thanked  me  for  my  demonstra- 
tion. 

The  Electric  Magnet  is  put  up  in  the  form  of  a cigar  mois- 
tener,  and  it  is  impossible  for  the  casual  observer  to  note  any 
distinction.  Of  course  the  dice  used  with  these  magnets  must 
be  “ electrified.”  Several  dry  batteries  are  used,  together  with 
a few  small  magnets,  some  wire  and  the  push  button.  All  the 
operator  has  to  do  is  simply  to  “ push  the  button,”  thereby  com- 
pleting the  circuit,  and  all  that  remains  to  be  done  is  to  roll  the 
dice. 

The  operation  is  swift,  sure,  and  silent.  “ Silence  is  gold ;” 


130 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


yes,  it  is  in  this  case.  The  squeeze  is  pressed  and  the  magnet 
does  the  rest.  The  change  pad  is  laid  over  the  magnet  when  the 
dice  is  being  shaken,  and  the  magnet  works  through  any  material 
except  iron  and  steel.  In  order  to  throw  a “ big  throw  ” all  that 
is  necessary  to  be  done  is  for  the  operator  to  press  the  secret 
squeeze  and  throw  the  dice  over  the  magnet,  and  it  will  beat  any 
throw  the  opponent  might  make,  and  thus  with  the  same  dice  he 
uses,  without  any  juggling  of  the  dice  or  box.  The  dice  roll  per- 
fectly natural  at  all  times,  and  no  one  can  see  any  difference 
when  the  “ current  ” is  on — onlv  in  the  size  of  the  hands  thrown. 


Electric  Case  Alagnet. 


This  is  without  doubt  the  most  useful  article  ever  put  into 
a cigar  store,  saloon  or  other  place,  where  people  will  “ shake 
for  the  cigars  or  drinks,”  and  probably  later  for  money. 

It  is  surprising  that  with  all  the  educational  facilities  that 
men  have,  that  they  do  not  stop  to  consider  why  it  is  that  the 
general  run  of  cigar  salesmen  and  bartenders  can  beat  them  so 
frequently  at  the  game.  The  average  man  will  say,  “It’s  just 
my  luck,”  while,  in  reality,  “ luck  ” has  nothing  at  all  to  do 
with  it ; and  so  the  bartender  “ goes  on  smiling.” 

The  scene  represented  on  the  following  page  will  be  famil- 
iar to  many  readers  of  this  book.  Go  to  the  cigar  stands  in 
the  largest  hotels  in  almost  anj^  city  where  dice  shaking  is  per- 
mitted, and  it  Avill  be  no  uncommon  thing  to  find  a young  woman 
behind  the  counter,  shaking  dice  with  men.  To  m3'  mind,  this  is 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


131 


one  of  the  most  disgraceful  sights  ever  permitted  by  city  ad- 
ministrations, for  it  not  only  places  the  young  woman  in  a posi- 
tion where  she  is  compelled  to  hear  language  which  the  men 


! 

I who  patronize  these  stands,  would  not  use  in  the  presence  of 


their  own  mothers  and  sisters,  and  is  not  only  thus  humiliated 
thereby,  but  she  oftentimes  has  to  act  the  part  of  a sharper. 

If  you  look  at  the  open  door  shown  in  the  illustration,  you 
will  perceive  the  batteries  in  the  cupboard,  all  ready  for  opera- 
tion. Having  read  the  explanation  of  the  electric  magnet,  you 
will  readily  understand  that  the  proprietor  who  uses  such,  would 
have  no  scruples  in  placing  a young  woman  behind  the  cigar 
counter  and  leaving  her  in  charge  during  his  absence,  for  she 
would  not  require  any  skill  whatever  to  beat  all  who  would 
come  to  shake  dice  with  her  for  cigars.  Then  again,  she  would 
prove  to  be  an  “ extra  added  attraction.” 

Some  men  seem  to  have  no  souls.  They  know  that  there 
are  numbers  of  young  women  looking  for  work,  and  where  there 
is  one  that  would  refuse  to  stoop  so  low  in  the  gutter,  there  are 
a dozen  others  who  would  do  the  work  from  “ necessity.” 

While  staying  at  a very  prominent  hotel  in  Cleveland  some 
time  ago,  I accosted  the  girl  at  the  cigar  counter,  and  Tasked 
her  why  she  did  not  try  to  get  something  more  respectable  to  do. 
She  told  me  that  it  was  winter  and  very  difficult  for  her  to  ob- 


133 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


tain  the  kind  of  work  that  suited  her,  and  at  the  same  time  make 
a living. 

I wish  the  W.  C.  T.  U’s  and  Y.  W.  C.  A’s  all  over  the 
country  would  take  up  this  question.  If  they  cannot  do  what 
is  required  by  gentle  persuasion  with  the  proprietors  or  the 
girls  themselves,  then  I would  like  to  see  them  combine  their 
forces  and  bring  pressure  to  bear  upon  the  local  administrations, 
urging  them  to  pass  by-laws  prohibiting  women  from  serving 
at  the  cigar  stands.  If  their  efforts  in  this  direction  prove  futile. 
I suggest  they  work  for  the  enactment  of  state  laws  which  shall 
prove  effectual. 

W e want  the  conditions  of  our  American  womanhood  to  be 
that  of  the  best.  How  can  we  expect  the  young  women  to  at- 
tain to  the  highest  state  of  womanhood, — that  is,  by  being  fit  to 
hold  the  honorable  position  of  a true  motherhood  to  the  future 
generation  of  this  our  country, — if  they  are  permitted  to  eke 
out  an  existence  in  this  manner,  which  is  most  degrading  to 
our  nation. 

We  are  disgusted  when  we  hear  of  women  serving  behind 
the  bar  of  a saloon,  and  such  an  one  is  ostracized  by  society. 
Then  why  not  take  upon  ourselves  the  responsibility  of  seeing 
to  it  that  these  girls  be  removed  from  the  temptations  that  sur- 
round them. 

Electric  Transparent  Dice. 
It  has  taken  many  years  of  ex- 
perimenting in  perfecting  this 
most  mystifying  gambling  de- 
vice ever  invented.  The  work 
put  into  these  dice  absolutely 
defy  detection  by  looking  at 
them.  The  magnet  alone  is 
the  only  possible  means  which 
can  be  used  to  discover  that  they  are  “ faked."  These  dice  are 
made  to  come  any  combination  the  sharper  de- 
sires. They  are  guaranteed  to  do  the  work  and 
to  get  the  money.  They  are  sold  at  $15  the  set 
of  five.  When  the  “ sucker  " finds  transparent 
dice  being  used  it  naturally  disarms  him  of  all 
possible  suspicion,  for  he  can  look  them  over 
and  never  discover  anything  wrong  with  them. 

The  electric  transparent  dice  are  becoming  more  popular  with 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


133 


the  sharper  than  any  other  dice  used.  They  look  “ square,”  but 
they  are  not  square.” 

Electric  Money  Drawer.  The  dia- 
gram here  shows  the  money  drawer  all 
complete  and  ready  to  screw  under 
the  table.  It  is  used  especially  for 
Klondike,  Hazard,  first  flop,  chuck-a- 
luck,  and  for  all  kinds  of  dice  games. 
It  is  said  to  be  swift  and  sure,  and 
the  greatest  money  maker  on  the 
market. 

The  outfit  consists  of  one  drawer 
23  inches  long,  14  inches  wide,  5 inches  deep,  one  magnet,  bat- 
teries, switch,  and  one  set  of  five  electric  dice  made  for  any 
I combination  desired.  The  complete  apparatus  can  be  had  for 
i the  sum  of  $25,  and  guaranteed. 


The  New  Cube  Game. 

The  cube  game  consists  of  one  mahogany  stand  with  a base 
of  ten  inches  in  circumference,  with  a four  and  a half  inch  cyl- 


134 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


inder,  seven  inches  high.  If  you  look  at  the  smaller  diagram 
you  will  perceive  that  in  the  cylinder  is  placed  slanting  shelves, 
which  cause  the  cubes  when  thrown  into  it  to  be  thoroughly 
tumbled  about.  The  dice  fall  into  the  saucer  shaped  bowl  or 
base,  where  they  are  easily  seen  and  easily  picked  up  for  the 
next  throw.  On  each  of  the  five  cubes  is  six  colors — red,  black, 
green,  yellow,  blue  and  dove  color. 

This  game  can  be  run  in  innumerable  ways,  one  of  the  most 
popular  being  25  throws  for  25  cents.  The  player  selects  his 
color,  and  if  he  succeeds  in  throwing  26  of  color  named  in  25 
throws,  he  gets  $1  in  trade ; if  he  throws  only  11  or  less  he  gets 
$1  in  trade ; if  he  throws  33  or  over  he  gets  $2  in  trade. 

This  is  called  an  “ innocent  amusement.”  In  looking  at 
the  method  of  play  a little  more  closely,  you  will  observe  that 
if  he  throws  any  number  between  11  and  26  the  player  gets 
nothing;  if  he  throws  any  number  between  26  and  33  he  gets 
nothing.  The  numbers  he  is  likely  to  be  successful  in  throwing,  i 
have  no  prizes  provided  for  them.  i 

Sometimes  only  three  cubes  are  used.  In  that  case  the  ! 
player  selects  his  color,  drops  the  three  cubes  into  the  top  of  i 
the  cylinder,  and  lets  them  settle  in  the  bowl.  If  one  cube  comes  i 
with  his  color  up,  he  receives  twice  the  amount  played  in  trade ; i 
if  two  cubes  with  his  color  come  up,  three  times  amount  played  I 
in  trade ; and  if  three  cubes  come  up  with  his  color,  five  times  i 
amount  in  trade.  Vliether  he  wins  or  loses  the  house  always  i 
takes  the  amount  played. 

Another  method  used  to  induce  play  is  for  the  house  to  i 
offer  $100  for  a dime  to  anyone  naming  a color  and  throwing 
five  of  them. 

This  game  is  said  to  be  able  to  run  where  slot  machines 
and  dice  games  are  barred,  and  to  possess  many  great  advan- 
tages over  the  ordinary  slot  machine,  which  player  can  only  play 
for  a certain  amount,  while  the  cube  game  can  have  any  limit 
put  upon  it  the  owner  sees  fit  to  offer. 


THE  NEW  MATHEMATICAL  BLOCK  GAME;  OR, 
ROLLING  LOG. 

This  game  consists  of  four  logs,  three  fair,  one  “ ringer 
one  tray,  and  a chart  with  numbers  ranging  from  four  to  twenty- 
three  inclusive;  ten  spaces  for  small  prizes  and  ten  for  larger 


ones.  This  is  when  it  is  fixed  up  as  a “ gift  enterprise.”  At 
other  times  blanks  take  the  place  where  the  small  prizes  are 
arranged.  The  game  is  operated  by  placing  three  logs  in  back 
of  tray,  player  or  dealer  elevating  same  to  allow  the  three  logs 
to  roll  down  the  table.  When  they  come  to  rest  the  spots  that 
are  on  top  are  counted,  and  the  sum  total  shows  the  number 
which  tells  the  reward.  It  is  so  made  that  the  operator  can 
make  it  come  big  or  little  prize  at  will.  The  “ ringer  ” is  brought 
into  play  whenever  he  deems  it  necessary. 


DIE  PINS. 

This  game  is  on  the  principle  of  the 
eight-die  case.  Each  pin  is  numbered 
one  to  six,  and  the  usual  chart  with  num- 
bers is  furnished,  showing  the  value  of 
the  prizes  offered.  The  pins  are  knocked 
down  by  the  hand,  and  when  they  come 
to  rest  the  numbers  on  the  top  of  the  pins  are  counted,  and 
the  sum  total  shows  the  number  which  tells  the  award.  Of 

135 


1 


im  GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 

course  there  are  numerous  ways  of  placing  the  bets  on  this  game, 
and  it  is  no  uncommon  thing  for  the  operator.  Avith  the  aid  of 
“ cappers,”  to  get  the  “ sucker  ” to  ‘‘  double-up  ” and  thus  take 
his  money  away  from  him. 


STAR  POINTER. 


1 his  is  one  of  the  latest  and  cheapest  machines  eA'er  put 
on  the  market  for  use  in  cigar  stores,  etc.  It  is  specially  recom- 
mended for  raffling  purposes  and  as  a trade  stimulator.  The 
wheel  is  only  seA'en  inches  in  diameter,  made  of  cast  steel, 
handsome  enamel  finish  A\dth  gold  figures,  also  celluloid  indi- 
cator. It  is  used  in  a similar  manner  to  the  paddle  Avheel,  as 
shown  in  another  part  of  the  book. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


137 


' THE  STRIKER. 

This  cut  illustrates  what  is  known  as  “ The  World’s  Fair 
' Striker.”  This  machine  appears  to  the  uninitiated  a very  simple 
I contrivance,  and  is  readily  induced  to 
I try  his  “ luck  ” as  the  amount  for  a 


suspicious  moves,  no  stalling,  and  every  movement  is  so  natural, 
that  the  moment  the  indicator  is  let  down  it  is  all  ready  for  the 
next  play.  I am  often  asked  at  various  places  where  I go  to  give 
my  demonstration,  whether  I have  a striker  with  me,  and  it 
generally  happens  that  the  person  who  is  so  anxious  to  know, 
is  in  the  habit  of  using  one  of  these  machines. 


DROP  CASES 


These  machines  work  on  the  principle  that  “ the  more  you 
drop  down,  the  less  you  pick  up.” 

If  there  is  any  class  of  gamblers  that  could  possibly  be 
called  robbers,  then  I say  that  the  men  who  handle  machines 
of  the  description  here  shown,  are  nothing  but  daylight  robbers. 
There  is  a certain  amount  of  respect  (if  it  could  be  called  by 
that  name)  for  the  man  who  will  guess  on  even  chances,  but 
there  is  nothing  but  the  most  utter  contempt  and  severe  con- 
demnation due  the  man  who  deliberately  undertakes  to  fleece 
the  ignorant  public  in  this  manner.  By  this  I do  not  mean  to 


138 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


exonerate  the  public  for  going  up  against  these  machines,  for 
they  should  know,  if  only  they  would  stop  and  think,  that  as 
these  are  not  games  of  skill,  then  the  element  of  chance  must  be 
very  strong. 

To  all  appearances  these  machines  are  perfectly  “ square,” 


and  the  high  prizes  denoted  on  the  charts  and  layouts  are  verv 
tempting  to  the  city  youth  and  the  young  man  from  the  country. 

The  operators  are  usually  very  cautious  in  opening  up  these 
games,  but  become  emboldened  as  the  play  goes  on.  They 
generally  put  up  their  stands  in  a small  tent  or  side  show  at 
fairs  and  carnivals,  etc.  \Adien  on  the  race  track  they  are  often 
to  be  found  underneath  the  grand  stand.  They  rely  very  con- 
siderably for  the  success  of  their  venture  upon  “ cappers,”  some 
of  whom  are  picked  up  in  the  town  in  which  the  fair  is  being 
held,  as  this  greatly  lessens  any  suspicion  that  might  arise. 
Wherever  fairs  and  race  meets  are  held  regularly,  the  fakirs  ” 
have  no  difficulty  in  securing  the  necessary  numbers  of  “ cap-  : 
pers.”  On  one  occasion  when  the  sheriff  of  a certain  county  j 
went  to  look  at  a certain  game  being  operated  on  the  fair 
ground,  who  should  come  forward  to  remonstrate  with  the 
sheriff  but  a former  deputy,  telling  him  there  was  nothing 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES, 


139 


I , crooked  about  that  particular  game.  Some  people  have  the 
erroneous  impression  that  if  the  games  are  not  “ crooked  ” that 
I the  games  ought  to  be  allowed  to  run,  irrespective  of  the  fact 
11;  that  they  are  gambling  implements.  The  public  cannot  tell  by 
looking  at  the  outward  appearance  of  the  machines  that  they  are 
crooked,  and  they  are  loth  to  believe  what  they  cannot  see. 


Nevertheless,  hundreds  of  “ suckers  ” have  rued  the  day  when 
they  first  dropped  the  nickel  or  marble  into  one  of  these  ma- 
chines. 

The  young  man  who  goes  to  the  fair  is  usually  looking  for 
some  kind  of  amusement,  and  if  he  happens  to  be  from  the 
country,  he  brings  with  him  the  nice  little  roll  of  pocket  money 
he  has  been  saving  up  for  the  occasion. 

The  desire  to  get  “ something  for  nothing  ” is  implanted  in 
his  mind,  although  perhaps  not  so  strongly  as  in  the  mind  of 


140 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


the  man  who  deals  in  pools  on  the  race-track,  or  the  man  who 
speculates  on  the  stock  exchange. 

When  he  first  enters  the  fair  ground  he  has  no  idea  what- 
ever of  gambling.  He  has  probably  heard  very  little  about  gam- 
bling, and  what  little  he  may  have  heard  would  be  associated 
with  card  playing.  Naturally  curious,  he  is  a fit  subject  for  the 
“ capper.” 

The  “ capper,”  being  a man  of  “ experience,”  readily  dis- 
covers the  class  of  men  likely  to  nibble  at  the  bait  and  thus  fall 
into  the  trap.  He  has  a happy  way  of  making  up  an  acquaint- 


Nickel-in-the-Slot. 


ance  with  a stranger.  Sometimes  he  has  to  resort  to  stratagem. 
Approaching  a countryman,  he  offers  to  “ divide  risks  ” with 
him;  i.  e.,  to  advance  half  the  money  and  share  equally  in  the 
gains  or  losses.  This  seems  to  be  a fair  proposition,  and  the 
countryman  thinks  he  cannot  lose  very  much  any  way,  so  he  falls 
in  with  the  scheme.  As  long  as  the  “ capper  ” and  the  “ sucker  ” 
play  together,  they  invariably  lose.  Should  the  dupe  become  dis- 
gusted with  his  “ run  of  hard  luck,”  the  “ capper  ” continues  to 
play  alone.  The  operator  works  the  lever  and  his  confederate 
soon  wins  a prize;  the  greenhorn  (who  always  stands  near,  to 
await  the  issue)  at  once  feels  encouraged,  and  it  usually  requires 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


141 


li  little  persuasion  on  the  “ capper’s  ” part  to  induce  him  to  make 
'!  another  venture. 

Should  business  be  a little  dull,  it  will  sometimes  pay  the 
■ operator  to  “ allow  ” the  dupe  to  win,  as  this  not  only  encour- 
!|  ages  him  to  continue  playing,  but  he  will  go  and  tell  his  friends 
of  his  success.  When  he  returns,  however,  there  is  a different 
story  to  tell,  for  he  loses  what  he  had  previously  won. 

I Occasionally  a number  of  “ sports  ” will  surround  the  ma- 

chine, but  not  being  content  with  just  ten  cents  a chance,  will 
i propose  to  raise  the  amount  staked  to  fifty  cents  and  even  a 
dollar,  in  order  to  get  high  play.  The  operator  being  willing  to 
I accommodate  them,  and  to  show  he  is  willing  to  sport,  readily 
i agrees.  Of  course  he  knows  they  Avish  to  show  him  that  they 
are  pretty  good  sort  of  fellows,  and  that  there  is  nothing  mean 
about  them.  They  become  delighted  with  the  occasional  success 
they  meet  with,  but  are  totally  unaware  that  whatever  success 
they  may  have  is  entirely  at  the  option  of  the  operator.  This 
gentleman,  of  course,  is  a most  affable  being.  If  the  victim  loses 
heavily,  he  tries  to  cheer  him  up  by  telling  him  that  he  will  have 
better  luck  next  time,  and 
urges  him  to  make  another 
venture.  To  the  man  who  has 
won  a prize,  he  is  equally 
anxious  for  him  to  return  to 
the  play,  even  though  he 
should  be  a “ capper.” 

The  majority  of  the  drop 
cases  are  made  so  that  they 
fold  up  like  a travelling  case. 

This  is  exceedingly  convenient 
in  case  of  it  being  necessary 
to  make  a quick  removal. 

Where  the  county  and  city 
officials  do  not  agree  as  to  the 
administration  of  the  law,  then 
either  one  or  the  other  will 
take  it  upon  themselves  to  en- 
force the  law  and  arrest  the  gamblers. 

I once  had  such  an  experience  in  a Missouri  city.  When  the 
policeman  placed  his  hand  upon  my  shoulder  and  informed  me 
that  I was  under  arrest,  my  first  impulse  was  to  get  away,  and 


143 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


I twisted  my  body  into  as  many  contortions  as  are  discernible 
upon  the  face  of  a man  who  is  shaving  himself  with  a dull  razor. 
I soon  found  that  escape  was  impossible.  The  blue-coated  min- 
ion of  authority  held  me  with  a tenacious  grip.  Then  I began 
to  appeal  to  the  finer  instincts  of  his  nature.  I told  him  that  I 
was  innocent ; he  laughed  at  me.  I told  him  of  my  poverty, 
talked  to  him  of  my  family,  and  otherwise  appealed  to  the 
gentler  side  of  his  character.  He  listened  to  all  I had  to  say  in 
silence,  and  with  a smile  that  Artemus  Ward  would  have  de- 
scribed as  “ coldly  cynical.”  Inserting  the  thumb  and  forefinger 
of  my  right  hand  in  my  vest  I drew  out  a ten  dollar  treasury 


note,  which  I quieth^  slipped  into  the  hand  of  the  protector  of 
public  morals.  His  large  fingers  closed  over  it  with  the  same 
firm  grasp  with  which  the}^  had  prevented  my  escape.  Stepping 
back  from  me  one  or  two  paces,  he  looked  earnestly  into  my 
face  and  exclaimed,  “ Well,  begorrah,  an’  Oi  believe  O’ive  got 
the  wrong  man.” 

It  is  not  all  honey  for  the  gamblers. 

These  drop  cases  are  sold  from  $25  and  up.  The  one  I will 
first  describe  is  one  that  I have  in  my  possession,  and  which 
cost  $350.  It  was  captured  one  Sunday  morning  in  a raid  at 
Coney  Island,  after  one  man  had  lost  $1,600  on  it  before  break- 
fast. After  reading  the  description  of  this  infernal  machine,  the 
reader  will  easily  understand  how  that  amount  of  money  could 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


143 


be  lost  in  so  short  a time.  “ The  fool  and  his  money  soon  parts.” 
This  machine  is  illustrated  on  page  138. 

The  diagram  shows  the  letters  of  the  alphabet  from  “ A ” to 
“ Z ” inclusive.  A chart  showing  the  prizes  and  blanks  go  with 
the  machine.  Some  letters  represent  a star,  which  means  that 
the  player  has  to  “ double-up the  letter  “ L ” represents  two 
stars,  which  means  that  the  player  must  put  up  four  times  the 
amount  of  his  bet ; the  letter  “ N ” represents  three  stars,  which 
means  that  he  must  put  up  eight  times  the  amount ; and  the  let- 
ter “ M ” represents  the  only  blank  on  the  board. 

Suppose  I am  operating  this  machine.  A 3^oung  man  from 
the  countr}’-— a farmer’s  boy — comes  up  and  takes  a look  at  the 
machine.  Lie  asks  me  Avhat  it  costs  to  take  a chance  on  it  and 
I inform  him  that  it  will  cost  $1.  L^nderstand,  in  the  first  place, 
that  he  bets  one  dollar  against  my  dollar.  And  whatever  amount 
he  may  put  up  all  he  can  hope  to  win  in  the  end  is  just  that  one 
dollar. 

He  places  down  his  money  and  I hand  him  a marble  which 
I tell  him  to  drop  into  any  one  of  the  five  apertures  you  see  at 
the  top  of  the  machine.  I size  him  up  and  conclude  that  he  has 
about  $15  in  his  possession,  so  I plan  to  get  that  amount  awa\" 
from  him.  He  is  a farmer’s  honest  boy  and  has  been  given  $15 
to  spend  and  have  a good  time.  Before  handing  him  the  marble 
I have  the  machine  already  set,  so  that  when  he  drops  the  marble 
in  it  rolls  down  between  the  needle  points  and  falls  into  one  of 
the  grooves,  over  which  is  a letter  representing  a star.  As  this 
is  neither  a winning  nor  a losing  letter,  the  money  he  has  put 
up  is  “ in  chanceiy.”  But  to  get  it  back  he  must  go  on  with  the 
play  and  double-up.  Lie  now  puts  up  $'3  on  the  condition  that 
if  he  wins  a prize,  he  gets  his  money  back  also.  Again  the 
marble  is  dropped,  meeting  with  the  same  result.  Lie  now  has 
to  put  up  $4.  The  same  operation  is  performed,  but  without 
his  having  met  with  any  success.  He  has  now  put  up  $7  in  all, 
and  the  money  is  still  in  chancery.  I calculate  that  he  has  now 
$8  left  out  of  the  $15,  so  in  order  to  get  that  I open  the  side 
drawer  and  pull  out  a roll  of  bills.  In  doing  so  I perform  a little 
operation  of  my  OAvn  and  the  machine  is  “ fixed  ” to  make  him 
lose  all  of  his  money.  I now  offer  him  as  a special  inducement 
to  put  up  the  other  $8,  a conditional  prize  of  $100,  that  if  the 
marble  comes  on  to  a winning  prize,  he  gets  the  prize,  the  $100, 
and  his  own  money  back.  This  looks  rather  good  to  him  as  he 


144 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


has  been  wondering  in  the  meantime  what  he  shall  tell  his  father 
and  mother  what  he  did  with  the  money,  so  he  puts  up  the  last 
$8  and  Avatches  with  feverish  excitement  the  rolling  of  the  mar- 
ble until  it  rests  in  the  groove  over  which  is  painted  the  letter 
“ M.”  We  all  look  eagerly  at  the  chart  to  see  the  result,  when 
we  discover  it  represents  the  only  blank  on  the  board.  He  goes 
away  disheartened  and  all  the  enjoyment  that  he  hoped  to  get 
at  the  fair,  has  vanished. 

Surely  this  cannot  be  classed  as  anything  but  robbery.  Yet 
this  very  thing  is  occurring  almost  every  day. 

In  each  of  the  machines  illustrated  the  system  is  very  simi- 
lar. Those  machines  which  do  not  “ represent  ” are  simple 
prizes  and  blanks.  Where  this  is  the  case  there  is  a slide  which 
can  be  moved  by  a very  slight  pressure,  thus  placing  it  under 
the  complete  control  of  the  operator. 

“ LTonest  John  " works  absolutely  certain  at  all  times.  Certain 
that  the  operator  will  win,  which  naturally  follows  that  the 
“ sucker  ” will  lose. 


FISH  POND. 


This  is  a very  popular  game  with  the  children.  The  illus- 
tration shows  a complete  outfit.  A very  attractive  board  loaded 
with  jewelry  is  displayed,  the  value  of  which  does  not  average 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


145 


[ 

I one  cent  a piece,  and  vary  from  a pocket  mirror  to  a nickel 

watch.  The  players  pay  ten 
cents  for  the  use  of  a rod  and 
line  with  which  to  catch  a fish. 
The  diagram  represents  a 
“ two-way  fish  ” that  is  a mar- 
vel of  mechanical  ingenuity. 
Each  fish  can  be  made  to  show 
prize  or  blank  at  will.  “ No 
thumbing  of  numbers.”  Nothing  unnatural.  Player  selects  fish, 
it  is  handed  to  him ; he  pulls  out  the  slide  on  bottom  which 
displays  number  that  designates  prize  he  has  won,  unless  it 
should  happen  to  be  a blank,  which  is  not  at  all  unusual. 


SINGLE  ARROW  CHUCK-A-LUCK  SPINDLE  AND 
TABLE  LAYOUT. 

As  will  be  seen  in  the  illustration,  this  game  is  a combina- 
tion of  chuck-a-luck  and  spindle  games.  Reference  has  been 


made  in  another  place  to  chuck-a-luck,  but  it  is  claimed  for  this 
game  that  it  will  win  a larger  amount  of  money  for  the  operator 
than  if  he  used  dice.  The  percentage  is  said  to  be  twice  as  great. 
By  means  of  the  “ squeeze  ” when  used  the  operator  can  make 
the  percentage  whatever  he  thinks  proper. 


NEW  IDEA  CIGAR  MACHINE. 

This  is  called  a “Trade  Stimulator,”  and  is  used  for  raffling 
purposes.  The  word  “ gambling  ” is  becoming  obnoxious  to 


14G 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


many.  If  a young  man  who  is  just  commencing  to  enter  pool- 
rooms  and  cigar  stores  is  told  that  these  machines  are  gambling 
machines,  he  will  probably  pass  them  by.  But  when  he  is  told 
that  it  is  not  gambling  but  is  only  a trade  stimulator,  he  will 
usually  take  a chance  on  one  of  these  machines.  Sometimes  to  ] 


avoid  suspicion  the  operator  will  give  some  little  rosette  with 
each  play,  but  it  is  very  rarely  the  player  gets  anything  like 
value  for  his  money.  This  wheel  can  be  played  for  either  red 
or  black  or  numbers.  The  player  places  his  coin  on  one  of  the 
colors  or  numbers  as  shown  in  the  illustration,  and  a number  of 
players  may  play  at  one  time.  It  will  be  noticed  that  this 
machine  is  made  to  fold  up  like  a travelling  case.  This  is  for  the 
convenience  of  those  who  wish  to  operate  them  on  fair  grounds, 
etc.,  as  the}^  are  the  least  suspicious  looking  articles  when  folded 
up,  and  are  not  cumbersome  to  the  owner. 

GRAVITATION  BALL  GAME. 

These  games  vary  in  size  and  make-up.  The  one  here  shown 
is  a three-ball  game,  the  three  balls  usually  selling  for  ten  cents. 
The  cage  looking  case  is  provided  with  three  holes  in  the  top, 
and  there  are  three  wooden  rings  at  the  bottom  of  the  cage  cor- 
responding with  the  holes  at  the  top.  The  cage  is  usually  about 
six  inches  deep.  The  player,  in  order  to  gain  a prize,  must  suc- 
ceed in  dropping  the  ball  into  the  wooden  ring  so  that  it  will  re- 
main there.  The  ball  is  made  of  wood  also.  It  is  claimed  to  be 
a game  of  skill.  As  the  ball  drops  down  through  the  hole  it 
generally  gives  a bounce — not  on  to  the  ring,  but  away  from  it. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES.  147 


and  it  is  almost  impossible  for  the  ball  ever  to  stay  on  the  ring. 
Then  again,  to  make  it  more  difficult,  the  rings  are  sometimes 
so  placed  that  they  are  not  exactly  in  line  with  the  hole  above, 
although  it  may  be  but  a fraction  of  an  inch,  and  unless  the 
player  had  a very  straight  eye  and  was  looking  for  such  a con- 
tingency, he  would  not  discover  anything  wrong.  The  result 
is  that  the  operator  does  not  have  to  invest  much  of  his  surplus 
cash  in  purchasing  articles  for  prizes. 


CANE  RACK. 


The  casual  observer  at  the  county  fair  will  stop  and  look  at 


148 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


the  cane  rack  with  interest,  finally  making  up  his  mind  to  try 
for  one  of  the  canes.  In  different  localities  the  price  varies  for 
the  number  of  chances  given  for  your  money.  He  probably  pays 
five  cents  for  six  throws.  To  be  successful  in  securing  one  of 
the  canes  the  ring  must  go  completely  over  the  cane  and  rest 
on  the  table.  This  is  almost  impossible  to  accomplish,  and  for 
several  reasons.  The  ring,  which  is  made  of  wood,  is  very 
light,  and  therefore  too  delicate  for  the  average  person  to  handle 
conveniently.  Three  sizes  of  rings  are  made,  viz.,  1%,  1% 
and  2 inches.  The  handles  on  some  of  the  canes  will  vary  in 
size  up  to  about  four  inches,  so  that  it  is  impossible  for  the  ring 
to  go  on  them.  Indeed,  very  few  canes  are  made  to  take  the 
ring,  and  the  operator  of  a cane  rack  stand  can  often  go  through 
the  whole  season  with  an  investment  of  not  more  than  $10.  For 
that  amount  he  can  get  a complete  outfit,  including  240  canes. 

THE  O’LEARY  BELT. 

Like  the  other  swindling  devices  herein  described,  the  me- 
chanism of  this  contrivance  is  easily  operated,  and,  when  ex- 
plained, readily  comprehended.  It  is,  however,  what  is  called, 
in  the  slang  of  the  street,  “ a sure  winner  ” for  the  manipulator. 
Thousands  of  dollars  have  been  won  through  its  operation  in  a 
single  day,  and  one  used  on  the  streets  of  Cincinnati  won  $12-5,- 
000  in  six  months. 

In  order  to  work  it  successfully,  it  is  indispensable  that  the 
top  of  the  machine  be  raised  high  enough  above  the  heads  of  the 
surrounding  crowd  to  prevent  the  by- 
standers from  seeing  the  interior,  in- 
asmuch as  such  a view  would  disclose 
the  apparatus  by  means  of  which  they 
would  be  robbed  of  their  money.  With  q'- 
this  end  in  view,  the  operator  gener- 
ally operates  it  from  a buggy,  the  up- 
per part  of  the  machine  standing  about 
three  feet  above  the  floor  of  the  con- 
veyance. 

As  will  be  seen  in  the  cut,  the 
device  consists  of  a hoop-wheel,  a sup- 
porting rod  and  a box  platform,  sup- 
porting the  rod  and  wheel.  The  apparatus  may  be  taken  apart 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


149 


and  neatly  placed  in  this  box.  On  the  box  is  placed  a valise 
containing  money.  The  wheel,  or  “ belt,”  is  made  of  brass,  and 
is  about  sixteen  inches  in  diameter  and  four  inches  broad.  It 
contains  thirty-two  compartments,  each  one  containing  a card, 
which  is  held  in  position  by  a small  fold  of  metal  on  each  of 
three  sides.  These  cards  may  be  perfectly  blank,  though  usually 
they  contain  pictures  of  famous  celebrities.  The  valise,  which  is 
shown  in  the  illustration  at  the  foot  of  the  upright  rod,  contains 
money.  Inside  the  metal  hoop  is  a leather  belt,  of  which,  at 
equal  distances,  are  painted  numbers  representing  sums  of 
money,  so  arranged  that  one  will  fall  behind  each  alternate  com- 
partment. When  the  cards  are  raised,  the  belt  is  seen  through 
a rectangular  opening  at  the  back. 

The  driver  of  the  buggy  carries  a number  of  whips.  As 
soon  as  a crowd  has  gathered  around  him  (which  is  certain 
to  happen  in  a very  few  moments),  he  informs  the  spectators 
that  any  one  or  more  may,  for  $1.00,  purchase  a chance  to  win 
a money  prize,  varying  in  amounts  from  $1.00  to  $‘20.00.  Some 
one  having  expressed  an  inclination  to  buy,  the  proprietor  takes 
his  money  and  hands  him  a whip,  with  which  to  point  to  any 
one  of  the  thirty-two  sections  of  the  “ hoop  ” which  he  may 
select.  The  purchaser  having  rested  the  whip  on  a compart- 
ment, the  operator  removes  the  cards  which  he  has  touched. 
Underneath  is  shown  either  a blank  space  on  the  belt  or  one  in- 
scribed with  a certain  sum.  If  it  happens  to  be  the  latter,  the 
buyer  is  given  the  amount  indicated;  if  the  former,  he  receives 
nothing. 

The  name  of  this  device  is  supposed  to  be  the  same  as  that 
of  the  inventor.  A well-known  confidence  operator  by  the  name 
of  O’Leary  flourished  some  years  ago,  who  was  recognized 
among  his  companions  as  an  expert  manipulator  of  this  ap- 
paratus. and  it  is  generally  believed  among  the  guild  of  peripa- 
tetic gamesters  that  the  idea  of  its  construction  was  conceived 
in  his  fertile  brain,  through  the  direct  inspiration  of  the  antipodes 
of  Providence. 


SHELL  GAME. 

In  some  of  its  salient  features  this  game  resembles  “ three 
card  Monte.”  The  only  implements  necessary  are  three  hollow 
shells  and  a small  rubber  ball,  about  the  size  of  a buckshot. 


150 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


Halves  of  English  walnut  shells  are  the  ones  commonly  em- 
ployed, although  any  hollow  hemispheres  will  answer ; some- 
times operators  use  halves  of  potatoes  scooped  out.  The  sim- 
plicity of  the  apparatus  enables  the  “ shell  ’’  man  to  carry  his 
outfit  with  him  in  his  vest  pocket  wherever  he  may  go,  and  he 


is  accordingly  able  to  ply  his  vocation  at  any  spot  where  he 
may  be  able  to  gather  a crowd. 

The  operator,  after  rolling  the  ball,  places  one  of  the  shells 
over  it  in  such  a way  that  the  edge  of  the  latter  shall  be  slightly 
raised,  thus  affording  a plain  view  of  the  ball  underneath.  He 
then  moves  the  shells  around,  after  which  someone  is  invited 
to  tell  under  which  shell  the  ball  is  to  be  found,  and  a bet  is 
made.  The  operator  wins  big  money  on  this  game,  for  the  “ out- 
side ” invariably  loses,  as  the  ball  is  never  under  any  of  the 
shells  when  the  bet  is  made.  It  looks  simple,  but  is  not  nearly 
so  simple  as  the  one  who  goes  up  against  it. 

One  of  the  best  known  “ shell  men  ” in  the  country  for 
many  years  was  “ Jim  ” iMiner,  better  known  as  “ L’mbrella 
Jim,”  who  was  fond  of  introducing  his  games  by  singing  the 
following  doggerel  : 

“ A little  fun,  just  now  and  then 
Is  relished  by  the  best  of  men. 

If  you  have  nerve,  you  may  have  plentju 
Five,  draws  you  ten,  and  ten,  draws  twenty. 

Attention  giv’n,  I’ll  show  to  you. 

How  umbrella  hides  the  peek-a-boo. 

Select  your  shell,  the  one  you  choose; 

If  right,  you  win,  if  not,  you  lose; 

The  game  itself  is  lots  of  fun,  ' 

Jim’s  chances,  though,  are  two  to  one; 

And  I tell  you  your  chance  is  slim 
To  win  a prize  from  ‘ L'^mbrella  Jim.’  ” 


TIVOLI  OR  BAGATELLE. 


The  gambling  device  known  by  this  name  is  shown  in  the 
accompanying  illustrations.  The  table  is  made  of  wood  usually 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


151 


about  3^2  to  4 feet  in  length  and  2 feet  broad.  Running  length- 
wise through  the  center  of  the 
table  is  a wooden  partition,  divid- 
ing it  into  two  equal  parts.  At 
the  lower  end  of  each  division 
are  ten  compartments,  open  at 
the  top,  each  set  being  numbered 
1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  G,  7,  8,  9,  0.  At  the 
upper  end  of  each  division  is  a 
gate,  lettered  on  the  diagram  c.  c. 

Between  the  gates  and  the  num- 
bered compartments  are  placed 
metal  pins  or  pegs,  arranged  sub- 
stantially as  shown  by  the  dots 
on  the  diagram.  Directly  below 
the  lower  row  of  pins  and  extend- 
ing over  the  upper  ends  of  the 
compartments  is  a board,  which 
runs  entirel}^  across  the  table, 
but  only  one-half  of  which  is 
shown  in  the  illustration. 

The  chart  shows  the  winning  and  losing  numbers.  The 
letters  “ rep.”  are  an  abbreviation  for  the  word  “ represent,”  and 
show  that  the  player  who  happens  to  make  the  number  in  that 
square  must,  if  he  does  not  wish  to  lose  his  stake,  double  it  and 
play  again. 

It  is  utterly  impossible  for  a chance  player  to  win  at  this 
game.  You  will  notice  in  the  illustration  the  dotted  line  running 
the  entire  length  of  the  board.  As  this  is  being  manipulated  by 
the  operator  a row  of  ten  triangular  metal  points,  marked  a,  a,  a, 
are  so  arranged  that  one  shall  stand  in  front  of  each  alternate 
compartment,  thus  throwing  the  marble  into  one  of  the  adjacent 
divisions.  Of  course  the  compartments  closed  by  the  points  al- 
ways contain  the  winning  numbers. 

The  assistance  of  “ cappers  ” is  indispensable  to  running 
this  game,  for  interest  is  certain  to  be  supplanted  by  a sense  of 
discouragement,  as  the  dupes  who  stake  their  money  in  good 
faith  are  never  permitted  to  win. 


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152 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING.  DEVICES. 


Tivoli  or  Bagatelle. 


Jewelry. 

$5.00 

$2.00 

$10.00 

$1.00 

$10.00 

Jewelry. 

Blank. 

20 

47 

79 

11 

71 

25 

6 

16 

Rep. 

JeM'elry. 

$10.00 

$10.00 

$5.00 

$5.00 

$10.00 

Jewelry. 

96 

20 

97 

29 

83 

39 

69 

32 

Blank. 

$5.00 

Jewelry. 

Rep. 

$2.00 

$5.00 

Rep. 

$1.00 

00 

85 

34 

58 

41 

21 

68 

55 

$1.00 

Blank. 

$5.00 

$1.00 

Jewelry. 

$5.00 

Blank. 

Rep. 

91 

40 

5 

75 

62 

93 

72 

14 

Rep. 

JeAvelry. 

Rep. 

Jewelry. 

Rep. 

$2.00 

JeAvelry. 

Rep. 

22 

80 

54 

28 

84 

57 

64 

42 

Jewelry. 

Jewelry. 

$10.00 

$2.00 

$10.00 

Jewelry. 

$5.00 

$2.00 

66 

30 

45 

2 

35 

78 

7 

27 

Blank. 

Rep. 

Rep. 

Blank. 

Jewelry. 

$5.00 « 

$20.00 

Jewelry. 

18 

88 

38 

10 

92 

53 

17 

48 

Jewelry. 

Rep. 

Jewelry. 

Jewelry. 

$25.00 

$2.00 

$1.00 

$1.00 

50 

74 

94 

24 

33 

99 

81 

23 

$1.00 

Jewelry. 

$2.00 

$5.00 

$5.00 

Jewelry. 

$5.00 

$2.00 

65 

86 

61 

49 

63 

76 

69 

37 

Blank. 

Rep. 

Jewelry. 

$1.00 

$5.00 

$5.00 

Jewelry. 

Rep. 

46 

56 

36 

77 

43 

19 

60 

12 

$2.00 

$5.00 

Jeweh'y. 

Jewelry. 

Rep. 

$5.00 

$5.00 

Rep. 

95 

1 

52 

82 

70 

81 

13 

90 

Jewelry. 

Jewelry. 

Jewelry. 

$2.00 

Rep. 

$5.00 

$5.00 

$5.00 

8 

4 

98 

73 

44 

9 

51 

87 

$2.00 

$5.00 

$2.00 

$2.00 

15 

67 

89 

3 

GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


153 


THE  JENNY  WHEEL. 

This  device  is  most  commonly  used  by  the  “ small  fry  ” 
gamblers.  It  is  a “ fake,”  pure  and  simple,  and  the  apparatus  for 
cheating  is  so  simple  in  construction  that  it  could  be  easily  de- 
tected should  a victim  ask  for  the  privilege  of  examining  it. 
Should  such  an  inconvenient  request  be  made,  however,  the 

manipulator  can  readily  pick  up  the 
whole  apparatus  and  deposit  it  in 
his  overcoat  pocket. 

The  operator  usually  has  a 
small  case  containing  articles  of 
cheap  jewelry,  each  one  bearing  a 
number.  The  player  pays  ten  cents 
for  the  privilege  of  twirling  the 
saucer  containing  the  marble  and 
taking  his  chance  of  winning  a prize. 
If  the  marble  falls  into  a compart- 
ment numbered  to  correspond  with  the  number  attached  to  any 
one  of  the  prizes  exposed  in  the  case,  the  article  so  numbered  is 
given  to  him.  If,  unfortunately,  he  draws  a blank,  he  receives 
nothing. 


BEE  HIVE. 

The  accompanying  illustration  gives  an  excellent  idea  of  the 
general  appearance  of  this  device.  It  consists  of  two  cones,  the 
inner  one  of  which  is  placed  upon  circular  pieces  of  wood, 
around  the  rim  of  which  are  thirty-two  compartments,  numbered 
from  one  to  thirty-two,  and  separated  by  thin  metal  plates. 
Driven  into  the  surface  of  the  inner  cone  are  small  nails  or  metal 
pegs,  the  arrangement  of  which  is  a matter  of  comparative  in- 
difference, although  they  are  usually  rather  close  together  and 
approximately  equi-distant.  The  outer  cone  serves  as  a cap  or 
case. 

An  unsophisticated  player  can  never  win  except  through 
the  consent  of  the  operator.  In  order  to  encourage  the  crowd 
in  playing,  “ cappers  ” have  to  be  employed,  who  are  always  on 
hand  to  draw  prizes.  It  sometimes  happens,  however,  that  the 
verdant  looking  countryman,  after  receiving  the  dollar  from  the 
“ capper  ” and  winning  a prize  for  the  latter,  forthwith  “ makes 


154 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


i-racks  ” for  parts  unknown,  leaving  the  proprietor  and  his  astute 
confederate  to  mourn  the  loss  of  their  money  and  to  bewail  their 
own  misplaced  confidence  in  human  nature. 


This  is  an  illustration  of  what  is  known  as  the  “ Improved 
Bee  Hive,”  and  is  of  the  latest  design  and  construction.  It  is 
stated  that  it  can  be  run  where  all  others  are  barred.  The  ball 
is  in  sight  from  start  to  finish,  so  that  while  the  player  can  see 
the  play  and  know  just  where  the  ball  stops,  it  is  impossible  to 
detect  the  secret  workings  of  the  machine. 

This  machine  is  specially  made  to  catch  “ suckers  ” and  is 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


155 


full  of  honey,  but  the  “ suckers  ” don’t  get  any  of  the  honey ; 
they  are  lucky  to  get  a piece  of  beeswax. 

“ The  little  bee  sucks  the  blossom, 

The  big  bee  gets  the  honey. 

The  sucker  does  the  work, 

And  the  gambler  takes  the  money.” 

SQUEEZE  SPINDLE. 

This  device  has  been  successfully  employed  in  defrauding 
the  unwary  for  nearly  sixty  years,  and  is  still  to  be  found  on 
every  fair  ground  where  the  directors  are  men  of  sufficiently 
easy  morality  to  permit  unprincipled  sharpers  to  fleece  their 
townspeople  for  a consideration.  I have  myself  won  thousands 
by  this  very  means. 


This  illustrates  what  is  known  as  the  Improved  Camel  Back 
Spindle.  Notice  the  description  given  to  induce  the  public  to 
become  purchasers  of  this  machine.  “ This  spindle  has  the  most 
perfect  creep  ever  made,  next  to  perpetual  motion  arrow  23 
inches  long,  stands  4 inches  high,  weight  7 pounds.  The  only 
controlled  spindle  ever  made  without  a gaff.  WE  GLIAR- 
ANTEE  DETECTION  IMPOSSIBLE,  EVERY  LEG  A 
SQUEEZE.  Yet  all  legs  are  fair  as  the  tripod  is  one  solid 
casting.  Spindle  works  so  accurate  that  operator  could  split  a 
hair.” 

Coney  Island  is  the  favorite  resort  where  the  squeeze  spindle 
is  chiefly  operated.  I have  in  my  possession  at  the  present  time 
one  of  the  old  veterans,  and  can  vouch  for  it  that  thousands  have 
been  lost  on  this  machine.  The  majority  of  men  who  witness  my 
demonstrations  on  crooked  machinery  are  familiar  with  this 
kind  of  a machine,  but  after  witnessing  my  demonstration  many 
come  to  me  personally  and  promise  never  to  go  up  against  it 
any  more. 


156 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


Another  form  of  the  squeeze  spindle,  is  known  to  the  pro- 
fession as  the  “ three  spindle  ” machine.  It  differs  from  the 
above  spindle,  only  in 
that  it  contains  three  ar- 
rows instead  of  one,  two 
of  which  are  under  con- 
trol of  the  operator 
through  the  employment 
of  friction  at  the  pivot  by 
means  of  precisely  similar 
contrivances.  It  is  not 
difficult,  however,  to  per- 
ceive the  very  large  pre- 
ponderance of  chances  in 
favor  of  the  sharper,  who 
always  has  it  in  his  power 
to  determine  who  shall 
win  the  large  wagers.  As 
a rule  small  bets  are  placed  on  these  machines,  but  the  sharper 
can  average  as  much  as  $400  a week.  The  illustration  here 
shown  is  known  as  “ the  old  army  game.” 


It  is  claimed  for  the  above  machine  to  be  the  most  popular 
and  fascinating  spindle  ever  p.ut  upon  the  market.  “ The  Vinner 
of  the  Day  ” Chuck-a-Luck  percentage  Banker.  It  is  got  up  very 
attractively,  and  the  layout  is  richly  ornamented  in  colors  and 
gold.  Works  on  the  same  principle  as  that  shown  in  the  pre- 
ceding illustration. 

On  this  machine  each  player  places  the  amount  he  wishes 
to  bet  on  the  color  or  horse  which  he  selects.  The  proprietor 
gives  odds  of  ten  to  one  on  the  horses  and  even  bets  are  made 
on  the  colors.  That  is  to  say:  if  a player  Avagers  a dollar  on 
the  red  and  wins,  the  proprietor  pays  him  a dollar  and  returns 
his  stake.  If  he  bets  a dollar  on  a horse  and  wins,  he  receives 
$10  in  addition  to  his  original  rvager. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


157 


Here  again  the  player  cannot  win  without  the  proprietor’s 
consent.  At  the  point  of  four,  as  shown  in  the  diagram,  is 
placed  a metal  disc,  resembling  a button,  which  is  attached  to 
a stout  wire  rod,  which  in  turn  is  sunk  into  the  wooden  top  of 


the  table  and  entirely  concealed  from  view  by  the  cloth  cover- 
ing the  latter.  When  this  metal  button  is  pressed,  it  operates 
the  rod,  the  other  end  of  which,  by  creating  friction  at  the  cen- 
tral pivot,  gradually  stops  the  movement  of  the  arrow,  and  the 
operator  is  enabled  to  bring  the  latter  to  a standstill  at  what- 
ever point  in  the  ellipse  he  may  see  fit.  He  can  operate  the  rod 


by  the  hand,  but  if  anyone  objects  to  his  hand  being  on  the 
table,  another  contrivance  is  attached,  the  location  of  which  is 
indicated  on  the  diagram  by  figure  three.  The  latter  contrivance 
is  woi'ked  by  pressure  from  some  part  of  the  body,  usually  the 
hip. 

The  Ball  Spindle  is  of  the  latest  design,  and  is  considered  to 


158 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


be  the  most  ingenious  device  ever  invented  in  the  spindle  line, 
and  stands  for  any  kind  of  inspection  the  operator  wishes  to 
submit  it  to.  In  appearance  it  is  fairness  personified.  It  is  the 
only  spindle  made  that  indicates  with  loose  ball,  carried  by  the 
arrow  while  arrow  is  moving;  when  arrow  stops,  ball  falls  out, 
rolls  between  pins  and  into  pocket.  Guaranteed  not  to  blow. 
Big  and  little  prizes  are  usually  given  on  this  machine,  and  in 
case  of  emergency  it  can  be  set  as  a fair  “ joint.”  This  spindle 
has  38  pockets,  same  as  a roulette  wheel.  It  can  be  framed  up 
for  many  different  games  such  as  red,  black  and  star,  or  for 
chuck-a-luck,  etc.,  or  as  a “ represent  ” game. 

One  of  the  most  expensive  spindles  ever  placed  upon  the 
market  is  that  shown  in  the  illustration  below.  The  manufac- 
turers claim  to  have  spent  ten  years  of  time  in  experimenting, 
and  the  expenditure  of  hundreds  of  dollars,  in  perfecting  what 
they  term  “ the  greatest  spindle  ever  invented.”  AVhy  so  much 
time  and  money  expended  on  such  an  article  with  which  to  fleece 
the  unsuspecting  public?  I have  seen  boys  and  girls  from  ten 
years  of  age  and  upward  pay  their  dimes  to  take  what  they  think 
is  a chance  of  winning  a big  prize.  They  are  ignorant  of  the 


real  nature  of  these  implements,  and  to  them  it  looks  big  to  have 
the  chance  of  winning  a dollar  (?)  watch  or  some  such  article. 
Such  a glowing  description  is  given  of  this  machine.  It  is  sold 
for  the  small  sum  of  $50.  “ Stops  natural,  looks  natural,  can  be 
made  to  come  either  blank  or  prize  at  will,  can  be  turned  either 
way  to  win  or  lose.  No  suspicious  moves.  Nothing  unnatural. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


151) 


Will  be  allowed  to  run  anywhere  and  will  always  get  a play. 
Can  be  used  as  a grinding  joint  or  for  money.  The  greatest 
money  getter  ever  invented.” 

The  operators  of  spindles  will  often  give  a small  artificial 
rosette  to  those  who  are  not  “ lucky  ” enough  to  win  one  of 

the  larger  prizes.  They 
do  this  to  shield  them- 
selves in  the  eyes  of  the 
law,  for  if  they  are  ar- 
rested they  claim  it  is 
not  a gambling  imple- 
ment, but  a “ gift  enter- 
prise,” as  they  give  some- 
thing on  every  play. 
What  is  the  value  of  this  beautiful  rosette?  It  does  not  cost 
more  than  one  quarter  of  a cent.  The  fact  that  they  give  more 
or  less  than  an  equivalent  constitutes  it  gambling. 

The  Jewelry  Spindle  is  probably  the  least  suspected  of  all. 


The  crowd  may  have  doubts  of  the  fairness  of  other  spindles,  but 
when  they  see  such  an  array  of  jewelry  exhibited  as  you  see 
outlined  on  the  illustration,  they  immediately  conclude  that  it 
cannot  be  anything  but  fair.  They  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that 


KiU 


GAAIBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


the  fellow  who  operates  the  machine  is  not  there  to  sell  them 
value  for  value  received,  neither  is  he  there  for  the  fun  of  it, 
nor  for  his  health.  The  crowd  may  be  there  for  “ the  fun  of  the 
fair,”  but  not  this  man.  Let  us  see  what  he  really  gives  in  re- 
turn for  the  dime  that  is  paid  for  a chance.  Remember  he  gives 
something  every  time.  You  may  get  in  return,  anything  from 
a pocket  mirror  to  a nickel  watch.  You  may  possibly  get  a set 
of  spoons ; and  if  you  are  a young  man  you  can  then  take  your 
girl  out  and  have  a dish  of  ice  cream  with  two  spoons  in  it.  The 
manufacturer  declares  he  has  been  compelled  to  turn  out  a $o0 
spindle,  which,  by  reducing  cost  in  some  unimportant  parts,  and 
making  in  a large  quantity,  he  can  offer  it  at  an  unheard  of 
price.  And  so  this  spindle,  together  with  2,61.5  pieces  of  assorted 
jewelry,  are  sold  for  $.31.  This  giA'es  the  operator  a profit  of 
$230.50  at  ten  cents  a roll.  Eigure  this  out  for  yourself  and  see 
what  value  you  get  for  your  money. 

You  will  notice  on  the  diagram  that  the  numbers  one  to  six 
appear  four  times  and  that  there  are  four  stars.  This  makes  it 
I)Ossible  for  28  to  play  the  machine  at  one  time.  It  is  onlv  in 
such  an  instance  that  anvone  secures  a large  prize,  and  even 
that  cannot  be  of  much  value. 


The  above  illustrates  a jewelry  outfit  such  as  is  used  by  the 
fakirs  who  follow  the  fairs  and  circuses.  It  costs  very  little 
cash  to  start  up  in  that  line  of  business,  but  I would  advise  them 
to  try  some  honest  means  of  securing  a livelihood.  It  will  be 
a great  blessing  to  the  country  at  large  when  it  becomes  impos- 
sible for  officials  to  accept  a rake-off  from  this  class  of  people. 

Let  me  relate  an  incident  that  occurred  upon  a Alissouri  fair- 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


161 


ground.  A sharper,  who  had  interviewed  the  directors,  con- 
vinced ( ?)  them  that  his  machine  was  entirely  honest,  and  ar- 
ranged matters  satisfactorily  all  around,  felt  serenely  secure  in 
the  operation  of  his  “ privilege.”  (And  right  here  I again  con- 
demn the  granting  of  such  ” privileges.”  A “ privilege  ” to  do 
what?  To  prey  upon  the  ignorant;  to  dupe  the  unwary;  to 
victimize  the  unsuspecting;  to  debauch  the  young;  and  to 
scatter  broadcast  the  seeds  of  corruption,  whose  fruit  will  be 
misery  in  every  home.)  But  this  is  by  the  way,  so  I will  return 
to  the  narrative.  The  “ privileged  ” gambler  had  set  up  his 
wheel,  and  to  use  a slang  phrase,  “ was  doing  a land-office  busi- 
ness.” A verdant  countryman  approached  the  machine.  Over 
and  over  he  tried  his  “ luck,”  which  every  time — as  a matter  of 
course — rested  with  the  “ privileged  ” monopolist.  This  went  on 
for  some  time,  and  I,  as  a disinterested  spectator,  watched  the 
game.  The  agriculturist  quit  a loser  to  the  extent  of  some  $50. 
The  blackleg’s  face  was  impassable.  The  countryman  thrust  his 
hand  into  his  pocket ; when  he  withdrew  it,  it  clasped  a long- 
bladed  knife,  the  blade  reflecting  the  light.  “ Stranger,”  said  he, 
“ I want  my  money  back.  I don’t  know  how  you  did  it,  but 
you’ve  cheated  me,  and  I’m  going  to  get  even.  Give  me  back 
that  money !”  Only  the  unnatural  pallor  on  the  old  man’s  face 
indicated  the  extreme  tension  of  his  feelings.  The  swindler 
looked  at  him.  At  least  seventy-five  or  a hundred  persons  were 
standing  around ; something  had  to  be  done,  and  promptly. 
“ Why,  old  man,”  said  the  proprietor,  “ there’s  no  use  in  your 
cutting  up  rough.  Of  course  you  can  have  your  money.  I was 
only  joking.”  And  with  these  words  he  returned  the  dishonest 
winnings. 


NEEDLE  WHEEL. 

This  machine  consists  of  three  parts.  The  outer  rim,  which 
is  stationary,  contains  thirty-two  metal  grooves,  numbered,  ap- 
parently without  special  arrangement.  Inside  this  rim  is  a circu- 
lar piece  of  wood,  resembling  a wheel,  but  without  spokes,  which 
is  covered  with  a cloth.  Above  this  is  a saucer-shaped  piece  of 
wood,  in  which  are  bored  three  holes.  On  the  table  on  which 
the  wheel  is  placed  stands  a wooden  box,  containing  thirty-two 
compartments.  These  numbers  are  divided  equally  into  prizes 
and  blanks. 


162 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


The  player,  after  paying  his  money  for  a chance,  places  a 
marble  in  the  upper  wheel  or  saucer,  which  is  given  a twirl,  the 
lower  wheel  being  usually 
set  in  motion  at  the  same 
time,  but  in  an  opposite 
direction.  As  the  upper 
wheel  revolves,  the  mar- 
ble flies  around  and 
finally  falls  through  one  of 
the  holes  on  to  the  lower 
wheel.  The  latter  slopes 
gently  from  center  to  cir- 
cumference and  the  mar- 
ble naturally  rolls  down 
to  one  of  the  compart- 
ments in  the  outer  rim, 
where  it  stops. 

The  “ fake  ” consists  of  a rod  which  runs  through  both 
wheels,  ornamented  with  a knob  on  the  top.  This  knob  actually 
operates  a thumb-screw  which  sets  in  motion  a system  of  six- 
teen wire  levers,  lettered  b,  b,  b,  on  the  diagram,  which  force  up 
through  the  cloth  covering  a like  number  of  fine  needle  points, 
c,  c,  c.  These  have  the  effect  of  sending  the  marble  into  one  of 
the  blank  compartments. 

CORONA  OR  MASCOT. 

To  operate  this  machine  two  men  are  necessary,  in  addition 
to  a number  of  “ cappers.”  The  apparatus  consists  of  a circular 
piece  of  wood,  at  the  outer  rim  of  which  are  painted  numbers 
from  one  to  sixty.  Inside  this  is  placed  a round  piece  of  heavy 
glass,  on  which  is  painted  either  an  arrow  or  a small  pointer. 
This  inner  plate  revolves  upon  a central  pivot.  Prizes  of  money 
or  jewelry  are  placed  upon  the  numbers.  Those  who  wish  to 
win  any  of  them  buy  tickets,  on  each  of  which  is  inscribed  a num- 
ber, the  purchaser  selecting  his.  ticket  at  random,  from  a large 
number  which  are  placed  in  a box.  At  the  right  of  the  ostensible 
proprietor  sits  his  confederate,  who  poses  as  ‘‘  book-keeper.”  In 
order  that  no  “ sucker  ” may.  by  any  chance,  win  a prize  of  any 
value,  a lever,  similar  to  that  used  in  the  squeeze  spindle,  is  sunk 
into  the  table  and  concealed  bv  the  cloth  cover.  The  ” book- 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


163 


keeper,”  by  pressing  on  the  end  of  the  wire  rod,  which  is  di- 
rectly underneath  his  book,  can  apply  friction  to  the  pivot  and 
cause  the  wheel  to  stop  at  any  number  which  he  may  choose.  It 
is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that  the  box  from  which  the  purchaser 
takes  his  ticket  contains  none  bearing  the  number  which  would 


call  for  a valuable  prize.  In  order,  however,  to  keep  up  the  in- 
terest of  the  dupes  and  stimulate  their  spirit  of  gaming,  the 
“ book-keeper  ” occasionally  brings  the  glass  to  a standstill  at 
a point  where  the  arrow  indicates  a money  prize.  Instantly  a 
“ capper  ” steps  forward  from  among  the  crowd,  presents  a 
ticket,  and  claims  the  prize.  The  unsuspecting  fools  thus  become 
encouraged  and  continue  to  play  with  fresh  zest. 

In  case  any  of  the  players  should  become  suspicious,  and  de- 
mand a sight  of  the  tickets  remaining  in  the  box,  in  order  to  sat- 
isfy himself  that  the  numbers  corresponding  to  the  money  prizes 
are  actually  there,  the  proprietor  cheerfully  assents,  readily  pro- 
ducing the  box,  into  which  he  has  surreptitiously  transferred  the 
necessary  cards  from  his  pocket. 

BOX  AND  BALLS. 

This  is  a device  by  no  means  common,  there  being  very  few 
of  the  “ fraternity  ” who  can  operate  it  successfully.  In  the  ac- 
companying diagram,  figure  “ 1 ” shows  the  exterior  of  the  box. 


164 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


Inside  this  box  “ B,”  are  placed  thirty  ivory  balls  or  marbles, 
each  of  which  are  numbered.  Near  the  operator  stands  a table 


on  which  is  a show  case  containing  twelve  prizes,  part  of  which 
are  articles  of  jewelry  and  the  remainder  sums  of  money.  Vhen 
a sufficient  number  of  chances  have  been  sold  the  operator 


$10.00 

1 

Jewelry. 

8 

Rep. 

12 

$10.00 

29 

Rep. 

4 

$52.00 

15 

Jewelry. 

24 

Blank. 

28 

$20.00 

17 

Jewelry. 

10 

Jewelry. 

6 

$10.00 

21 

© 

o 

JeAvelry, 

22 

Jewelry. 

14 

$5.00 

11 

Jewelry. 

27 

Rep. 

30 

Jewelry. 

26 

$5.00 

7 

Rep. 

18 

$5.00 

25 

Rep. 

20 

$10.00 

19 

Jewelry. 

16 

$10.00 

5 

Jewelry. 

13 

$5.00 

23 

Rep. 

9 

Jeiyelry. 

2 

Chart  for  Box  and  Ball  Case. 


shakes  the  box,  causing  the  balls  to  roll  from  one  end  to  the 
other.  Letter  “ A ” on  figure  1,  represents  a slide  at  one  end  of 
the  box.  This  slide  is  raised  by  the  manipulator  and  allows  one 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


16S 


ball  to  escape  at  a time.  The  number  of  the  marble  is  examined 
and  he  receives  whatever  it  represents  on  the  chart. 

The  fraud  consists  of  two  elements,  one  relating  to  the 
marbles,  and  the  other  to  the  box.  In  the  first  place,  the  ivory 
spheres  are  not  all  of  equal  size,  the  twelve  whose  numbers  cor- 
respond to  the  valuable  prizes  being  the  merest  trifle  larger  than 
the  eighteen  which  call  for  articles  of  no  value.  The  “ fake  ” 
in  the  box  is  in  the  slide,  “ A,”  and  is  shown  in  figure  2,  which 
gives  an  enlarged  view  of  this  part  of  the  apparatus.  In  this 
figure  the  line  “ B ” represents  a shoulder,  whose  height  above 
the  bottom  of  the  slide  (which  is  shaved  almost  as  thin  as 
paper),  is  so  delicately  adjusted  that  it  stops  the  larger  balls, 
and  allows  the  smaller  ones  to  strike  against  the  thin  wood.  The 
sensitive  finger  of  the  manipulator  readily  discerns  the  striking 
of  a ball  against  this  part  of  the  slide.  If  he  feels  it  he  knows 
that  he  must  raise  the  slide  and  allow  one  of  the  smaller  marbles 
to  escape,  inasmuch  as  the  latter  calls  for  no  article  of  value. 


THE  SWINGING  BALL. 


This  is  a very  simple  contrivance.  The  lower  line  repre- 
sents the  support  on  which  rests  a frame,  composed  of  two  up- 
rights, and  connected  at  the  top  by  a cross-piece.  From  the 
center  of  the  latter  hangs  a string,  at  the  end  of  which  is  a 
wooden  ball,  lettered  “ C.”  In  'the 
center  of  the  lower  support  there  is 
placed  a triangular  pin,  lettered  “ D ” 
on  the  diagram. 

The  player  pays  ten  cents  for  a 
chance  to  swing  the  ball.  If,  as  it 
swings  back  it  overturns  the  peg,  he 
receives  back  his  ten  cents,  together 
with  a dollar. 

To  prevent  such  a catastrophe,  the 
ball  is  usually  slightly  deflected  toward 
either  the  right  or  left  as  it  leaves  the 
hands  of  the  player.  If  the  upright  re- 
mains perfectly  perpendicular,  the 
chances  are  that  the  ball,  on  its  return,  will  strike  the  peg 
through  the  operation  of  the  law  of  gravitation.  Just  here  is 


166 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


where  the  operator  does  a little  “ fine  work.”  The  uprights  are 
always  made  a little  loose,  so  that  by  a very  slight  pressure  from 
the  shoulder  on  the  part  of  the  manipulator,  at  the  point  “ A,” 
they  may  be  bent  from  a perpendicular  position  to  that  indicated 
by  the  dotted  line  “ B.”  The  inevitable  result  is  that  when  the 
ball  swings  back,  the  force  of  gravity  draws  it  on  one  side  of  the 
peg,  and  the  unfortunate  speculator  sees  that  the  money  which  he 
paid  for  the  privilege  of  throwing  it,  has  been  lost. 


“ DOLLAR  STORE  ” OR  “ DROP  CASE.” 

This  outfit  consists  of  a wooden  case,  holding  one  hundred 
or  more  envelopes,  together  with  the  usual  chart  showing  the 
amount  of  prizes.  It  is  a great  money  making  scheme. 

The  “ capper  ” and  the  intended  victim  each  pay  for  a draw, 
the  former  drawing  number  “ eleven.”  The  operator  then  slips 
the  envelope  containing  the  ticket  marked  “ eleven  ” into  a 
secret  pocket,  from  which  at  the  same  time  he  draws  another 
envelope  holding  a ticket  marked  “ forty-four.”  He  then  places 


M 

a H 


this  envelope,  together  with  the  one  held  by  the  “ sucker,”  in  the 
box,  in  such  a way  that  the  edge  of  one  of  them  rises  a little 
above  the  rest.  Both  the  “ capper  ” and  the  greenhorn  perceive 
this  circumstance  and  the  latter  supposes  it  to  have  been  the 
result  of  accident.  The  “ capper  ” then  draws  the  envelope 
whose  corner  is  raised  and  the  dupe  takes  the  next  one  to  it. 
The  “ capper  ” puts  up  say  twenty  dollars,  and  then  opens  his 
envelope.  He  curses  his  luck  when  he  discovers  he  has  drawn  a 
blank.  While  the  proprietor  turns  his  head,  the  confederate 
snatches  the  envelope  away  from  the  dupe,  hastily  raises  the 
flap,  pulls  out  a small  portion  of  the  ticket  within,  thus  showing 
the  tops  of  figure  “ forty-four,”  which  leads  the  dupe  to  believe 
he  has  drawn  the  luckv  “ eleven.”  Lentil  the  monev  has  been 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


167 


paid  he  is  not  allowed  to  examine  his  ticket.  When,  having  paid 
the  cash,  he  opens  the  envelope,  he  discovers  that  instead  of  the 
magic  “ eleven  ” he  has  drawn  “ forty-four,”  having  been  misled 
by  the  resemblance  between  the  upper  ends  of  the  figures  “ four  ” 
and  “ one,”  shown  him  in  the  momentary  glance  which  the 
“ capper  ” gave  him  of  the  card.  Of  course,  he  is  utterly  with- 
out redress,  and  has  to  bear  his  loss  with  such  degree  of  equa- 
nimity as  he  may  be  able  to  command. 


KENO. 

This  game  is  a favorite  one  with  nearly  all  non-professional 
gamblers,  not  only  because  the  risk  of  loss  involved  is  not  large, 
but  also  because  of  the  popular  impression  that  it  is  always 
played  “ on  the  square.”  i\s  a matter  of  fact  it  is  usually  con- 
ducted fairly,  although,  as  will  be  explained,  sometimes  bare- 
faced swindling  is  resorted  to  by  the  proprietors.  The  game 
very  closely  resembles  the  children’s  game  of  “ lotto.”  Any 
number  of  persons  may  play.  Each  one  desiring  to  participate 
in  the  game  buys  a card  on  which  are  three  rows  of  five  numbers 
each,  arranged  together  with  regularity.  The  price  paid  for  the 
card  varies  from  ten  cents  upwards,  although  sometimes  very 
high  stakes  are  played.  None  of  the  cards  contain  a higher 
number  than  ninety-nine.  The  conductor  of  the  game — who  is 
known  as  a “ roller  ” — takes  his  position,  usually  upon  a raised 
platform,  in  full  view  of  the  players.  Before  him  is  placed  a 
globe  containing  ninety-nine  balls,  numbered  consecutively  from 
one  to  ninety-nine,  to  correspond  with  the  figures  on  the  players’ 
cards.  The  balls  having  been  thoroughly  mixed,  the  “ roller  ” 
presses  a spring  at  the  bottom  of  the  globe,  opening  an  aper- 
ture just  large  enough  to  permit  one  ball  to  drop  at  a time.  As 
soon  as  the  first  one  has  fallen,  the  aperture  is  closed  and  the 
“ roller,”  in  a loud  voice,  calls  out  the  number  inscribed  upon 
it.  If  a player  finds  the  number  in  either  of  the  three  horizontal 
rows  on  his  card  he  places  a button  over  it.  When  any  player 
has  all  five  numbers  in  any  one  of  his  rows  thus  called  out,  he 
exclaims  “ keno,”  after  which  the  “ roller  ” takes  no  more  balls 
from  the  globe.  His  card  is  then  inspected  by  one  of  the  “ col- 
lectors ” — of  whom  there  are  usually  two — and  if  his  tally  is 
correct  he  is  given  the  entire  amount  of  money  paid  by  all  the 


168 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


1 

21 

41 

GI 

R1 

lOl  121 

141  161  18] 

2 

22 

42 

02 

&2 

102  122 

142  162  182 

3 

23 

43 

03 

103  123  143  UWl  1S3 

4 

24 

u 

(U 

M 

1*>4  124 

141  164  184 

o 

25 

45 

0.5 

105  125 

145  1^5  l!<5 

6 

fj 

UG 

W 

106  12(5 

Ml)  ifw;  i?^ 

7 

27 

47 

(i7 

87 

107  127 

r»7  167  1^7 

8 

48 

08 

S8 

lOS  128 

148  n)8  1K8 

{) 

‘i) 

40 

00 

80 

It'm  120 

l-io  160  IKO 

10 

30 

So 

7*0 

00 

110  I.Ul  1.50  170  100 

u 

31 

51 

71 

01 

111  131 

1.51  171  lOI 

\2 

52 

72 

512 

U2  i:‘?2 

I V2  172  1512 

13 

53 

73 

513 

113  133  1.^3  173  Ifi.) 

U 

34 

74 

514 

114  134 

154  17  4 104 

15 

35 

~io 

75 

51.5 

11.5  135 

1.^5  175  105 

IG 

36 

OG 

7*6 

06 

MC  I'MJ  156  176  106 

17 

37 

57 

77 

517 

117  137 

1.57  177  107 

18 

.'W 

58 

78 

08 

118  i:J8  1.5S  178  108 

19 

50 

70 

00 

iiO  130  1.50  170  100 

4*1 

tio 

SO 

100  120  140  160  ISO  200 

Keno  Outfit. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


169 


players  (which  is  called  the  “ pot  ”)  less  a discount  of  fifteen  per 
cent.,  which  is  retained  by  “ the  house  ” as  its  “ percentage.” 
Thus,  if  there  are  a hundred  players,  each  of  whom  has  paid  ten 
cents  for  a card,  the  winner  receives  eight  dollars  and  fifty  cents, 
the  bank  reserving  to  itself  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  as  “ per- 
centage.” 

Matters  having  been  thus  arranged,  fresh  stakes  are  ad- 
vanced by  those  wishing  to  play  again,  the  balls  put  in  the  globe 
and  the  game  resumed. 

It  may  readily  be  seen  that  the  “ bank  ” incurs  no  risk  what- 
ever, and  its  sure  percentage  on  the  stakes  is  large  enough  to 
satisfy  the  cupidity  of  most  gamblers.  Fortunes  have  been  made 
by  the  proprietors  of  these  games,  one  concern  in  St.  Louis  hav- 
ing made  $190,000  thereby.  Still,  the  instinct  to  cheat  is  strong 
in  the  breast  of  the  professional  sharper;  and  sometimes  a con- 
federate of  the  proprietor  plays  in  the  game  and  wins  the  “ pot,” 
through  the  co-operation  of  the  “ roller.”  The  latter  withholds 
from  the  globe  several  balls,  which  he  substitutes  from  time  to 
time,  for  the  ones  which  he  should  have  taken  from  the  globe. 
The  numbers  on  these  withheld  and  substituted  balls  correspond 
to  those  necessary  to  fill  out  one  of  the  horizontal  rows  on  the 
confederate’s  card  and  the  latter  is  thus  enabled  to  win  through 
fraud. 


THE  GAMBLER’S  LUCK. 


To  prove  how  matters  will  go  wrong. 

When  gambling  ways  you  start  along. 

Just  listen  to  this  tale: 

I tramped  for  many  a weary  day. 

And  funds  were  gone,  and  skies  were  gray. 
For  trade  was  flat  and  stale. 

My  blood  seemed  chilled,  the  outlook  black. 
As  I came  hoofing  down  the  track 
And  reached  a country  town; 

I did  not  know  a single  soul 
To  ask  for  hash,  or  beg  a bowl, 

And  I was  done  up  brown. 

I earned  a dollar  in  that  town. 

And  in  a faro  bank  sat  down. 

And  took  a little  horn; 

The  checks  they  used,  my  gentle  youth — 

You  may  not  think  I tell  the  truth — 

Were  grains  of  Indian  corn. 


170 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


I scanned  the  players  there  awhile, 

A pleasing  thought  soon  made  me  smile, 
Mused  I:  “ Here’s  luck  for  me.” 

I knew  a few  miles  further  back. 

There  stood  a corn-crib  by  the  track. 

As  full  as  it  could  be. 

Though  dark  and  wet,  I left  the  place. 
And  turned  my  eager,  hopeful  face 
Towards  that  brimming  bin. 

Footsore,  I reached  the  happy  spot 
And  felt  among  the  lucky  lot. 

And  took  a big  ear  in. 


I shelled  it  as  I went  along. 

And  sang  the  only  happy  song 
I’d  sung  for  many  days; 

I stuck  my  stake  into  my  clothes. 
And  in  that  bank  I stuck  my  nose. 
For  I had  made  a raise. 


I watched  the  game  an  hour  or  two. 
And  tried  to  look  as  green  as  you. 
And  thought  I’d  played  it  fine. 

I walked  up  like  a country  jake, 

And  took  a handful  of  my  stake 
And  placed  all  on  the  nine. 


The  dealer  turned  his  eager  eyes 
On  mine,  which  caused  me  some  surprise. 
And  said  in  tones  quite  bland: — 

“ My  friend,  it  may  not  look  quite  right. 
But  no  ‘ reds  ’ here  are  played  to-night.” 
And  that’s  the  way  it  panned. 

I trudged  along  the  track  next  morn. 

And  there  I saw  old  Farmer  Thorne. 

Empty  his  bins  with  care. 

In  that  large  crib,  chuck  full  of  grain. 

The  sight  of  yellow  ears  brought  pain. 

For  not  one  " red  ” was  there. 


MONTE  CARLO:  THE  DEVIL’S  UNIVERSITY. 


If  you  travel  along  the  northwest  of  Italy,  you  will  eventu- 
ally reach  the  little  principality  of  Monaco,  and  the  notorious 
Monte  Carlo.  Leaving  the  city  of  Nice,  by  train,  and  passing 
through  a tunnel,  you  come  full  upon  the  beautiful  bay  of  Villa 
Franca.  Go  under  ground,  again,  and  you  presently  emerge 
upon  a rocky  headland  jutting  out  into  the  sapphire  sea.  This 
cape  bears  aloft  the  little  town  of  Monaco.  On  the  extreme 
southern  side  of  the  headland  is  a deep  bay,  beyond  which,  at  a 
distance  of  half  a mile  stands  Monte  Carlo,  on  another  and  lesser 
promontory.  The  famous  Casino  crowns  the  slope  of  Monte 
Carlo,  and  contains  the  gambling  rooms,  concert  hall,  and  thea- 
tre. The  Casino  was  established  by  the  late  M.  Blanc,  after  his 
enforced  departure  from  Baden-Baden.  But  in  reality  this 
stately  palace  was  erected,  and  the  surrounding  grounds  laid  out, 
at  the  expense  of  the  dupes,  the  blacklegs,  and  the  courtesans  of 
Europe.  M.  Gamier,  who  planned  the  grand  opera  house,  at 
Paris,  designed  the  architecture  of  the  Casino  in  its  sensual  de- 
tail. But  this  devil’s  university  of  Monte  Carlo,  with  its  classic 
rooms,  and  chairs  for  Professor  Belial  and  Mammon,  is,  in  sober 
truth,  the  erection  of  those  named.  The  fortune  is  always  with 
roulette  and  rouge-et-noir. 

There  are  six  tables  in  the  Casino  for  roulette,  where  the 
lowest  stake  is  twenty-five  francs.  Two  rouge-et-noir,  where 
the  lowest  stake  is  twenty  francs.  These  tables  are  always 
crowded,  Sundays  and  week-days  alike. 

By  some  Europeans,  it  has  been  insisted  that  while  Monte 
Carlo  may  not  have  moral  or  elevating  influence,  yet  men  will 
play,  and  it  is  not  worse  there  than  at  the  club.  This  plea  is 
specious  and  superficial.  The  club  is  private ; it  is  not  open  to 
women  and  children.  The  mischief  that  might  occur  there  is 
not  an  example  for  the  public,  and  therefore  not  contagious. 
The  club  does  not  exist  for  the  sole  purpose,  and  is  not  supported 
by  the  profits  of  the  play.  It  is  not  an  instrument  of  wholesale 
demoralization,  as  is  Monte  Carlo.  The  latter  is  a curse,  a public 
scandal,  and  an  unmitigated  evil.  In  these  times  of  spirited 
foreign  policy,  a more  wholesome  exercise  of  diplomacy  cannot 

171 


173 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


The  Casino  at  Monte  Carlo,  Monaco. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


173 


be  imagined  for  some  European  power,  than  bringing  pressure 
to  bear  on  France  for  the  extinction  of  Monte  Carlo.  It  is  a dis- 
‘ grace  to  the  French  Republic  that  under  its  protecting  wing  this 
pandering  to  European  vice  should  be  allowed,  or  that  Monte 
Carlo  should  be  a shelter  for  the  sharpers  expelled  from  other 
haunts  on  the  continent,  there  to  fatten  on  the  wages  and  spoils 
of  iniquity.  If  Monaco  and  Monte  Carlo  were  cleansed  of  this 
blot,  they  would  be  among  the  most  alluring  resorts  in  the  world. 
The  demoralizing  tables,  and  the  vicious  crew  should  not  be 
allied  with  such  delightful  scenery  and  salubrious  climate. 

M.  Blanc,  now  dead,  obtained  the  lease  of  the  place  from  the 
Prince  of  Monaco,  agreeing  to  pay  him  an  enormous  rental,  one- 
tenth  of  the  profits  of  the  game,  and  to  defray  the  expense  of 
maintaining  the  standing  army,  the  police,  and  the  menials  of  the 
principality.  The  interior  of  the  Casino  presents  the  appearance 
of  a grand  drawing-room  fete.  Monte  Carlo  is  the  last  and  sole 
representative  of  the  class  of  gambling  resorts  of  which  Baden- 
Baden,  Wiesbaden,  Homburg,  and  Ems,  were  formerly  notable 
examples. 

It  is  said  that  the  game  at  Monte  Carlo  is  undoubtedly  fair. 
This  may  be  true.  The  eyes  of  the  greatest  scoundrels  in  Europe, 
it  is  argued,  are  bent  upon  the  dealers,  and  that  ought  to  be  a 
sufficient  guarantee  against  any  fraud  being  practiced.  But  this 
does  not  certainly  follow.  The  powers  of  a Professor  of  Leger- 
demain are  admitted,  and  knowing  this,  it  would  be  childish  to 
guarantee  the  integrity  of  any  professional  gambler. 

At  the  Casino  eight  roulette  and  two  trente  et  quarante,  or 
rouge-et-noir  tables,  are  kept  running.  Roulette  is  not  played 
precisely  as  in  Aiuerica,  the  player  has  less  odds  against  him, 
from  the  fact  that  the  tables  have  only  one  zero  instead  of  two. 
The  heaviest  play  occurs  at  the  trente  et  quarante  tables.  This 
game  is  played  with  six  packs  of  cards  of  52  each.  Having 
shuffled  the  cards,  the  dealer  passes  them  to  the  nearest  player, 
sometimes  the  nearest  female  player,  to  be  cut.  It  is  a gambler’s 
superstition  that  bad  luck  attends  the  one  who  cuts  the  cards, 
and  accordingly  the  professionals  often  shirk  that  duty.  The 
pack  is  not  cut  as  in  the  United  States.  The  operation  consists 
of  inserting  a blue  card  in  the  sextuple  pack.  Two  rows  of  cards 
are  dealt  on  the  table,  the  first  representing  black  and  the  other 
red  The  ace  counts  as  one,  and  court  cards  as  ten  each,  and  the 
tailleur,  or  dealer,  continues  to  turn  cards  for  the  black  row  until 


174 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


the  aggregate  number  of  their  spots  exceeds  thirty.  Suppose  he 
deals  three  “ court  ” cards,  or  tens,  he  must  deal  another.  If  it  is 
a deuce  he  calls  “ deux,”  and  then  proceeds  to  deal  the  red  row, 
which,  perhaps,  aggregates  thirty-five.  “ Cinq,”  exclaims  the 
dealer.  The  black  row  being  nearest  to  thirty  wins,  and  accord- 
ingly, all  who  have  bet  on  the  black  win  the  amount  of  their 
stakes,  and  the  bank  rakes  in  all  that  has  been  bet  on  the  red. 

Should  the  two  rows  tie,  on  thirty-one,  the  bank  takes  half 
of  the  stakes,  but  ties  on  any  other  number  are  considered  as  a 
stand-off  and  the  player  is  free  to  withdraw  or  shift  his  bet,  as  he 
pleases.  Bets  may  also  be  made  on  “ coleur,”  or  “ envers,”  the 
former  winning,  when  the  winning  color  is  the  same  as  that  of 
the  first  card  dealt ; and  the  latter,  when  it  is  not.  These  ties, 
like  all  other  manifestations  of  chance,  occur  with  great  irregu- 
larity. On  some  days  there  will  scarcely  be  one ; on  others 
they  will  occur  with  terrible  frequency.  i\L  Blanc  invented  a 
system  of  insurance  against  these  ties  at  thirty-one,  and  heavy 
players  generally  avail  themselves  of  it.  It  consists,  simply,  in 
the  player  paying  to  the  bank  one  per  cent,  of  his  bet,  which  be- 
ing done,  the  bank  does  not  take  any  of  his  stake  when  such  tie 
occurs.  . In  such  a case  the  player  pays  one  per  cent,  for  the 
privilege  of  playing  a game  in  which  the  chances  are  precisely 
even. 

At  Monte  Carlo  no  bet  of  less  than  a louis  (four  dollars)  is 
taken  at  the  trente  et  quarante  tables,  and  no  bet  larger  than 
12,000  francs  ($2,400).  The  smallest  bet  allowed  at  roulette  is 
five  francs,  and  the  largest  5,000  francs.  On  a single  number, 
nine  louis,  or  180  francs,  is  the  largest  bet  permitted.  Roulette, 
compared  with  trente  et  quarante,  is  a very  unfavorable  game 
for  the  player. 

Formerly,  at  European  gaming  resorts,  the  game  was  played 
with  two  zeros  and  thirty-six  numbers ; that  is,  two  chances  out 
of  thirty-eight  were  reserved  for  the  bank.  With  the  advent  of 
M.  Blanc  at  Homburg  a more  liberal  policy  was  inaugurated, 
and  only  one  zero  was  employed.  When  !M.  Blanc  went  to 
Monte  Carlo  he  made  the  game  still  more  favorable  to  the  play- 
ers by  taking,  when  the  ball  struck  zero,  only  half,  instead  of  the 
whole  of  the  bets  on  the  colors,  odd  or  even.  etc.  Including  the 
zero,  the  Monte  Carlo  roulette  table  has  thirty-seven  numbers, 
and  the  player  on  a single  number  is  paid  thirty-five  for  one.  In 
backing  two  numbers  with  a single  bet,  one  is  banking  one- 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES.  175 


The  Gambler’s  Last  Play — From  Monte  Carlo  to  Hell. 
Contains  152  Suicides  at  Monte  Carlo. 


176 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


eighteenth  of  the  table,  and  is  paid  seventeen  times  his  stake. 
In  backing  four  numbers,  “ en  carre,”  as  it  is  called,  he  bets  on 
one-ninth  and  is  paid  eight  for  one.  Accordingly,  as  he  places 
his  bet,  the  punter,  even  though  he  stakes  but  a single  coin,  can 
play  one,  two,  three,  four,  or  six  numbers  at  once.  He  can  also 
bet  on  the  first,  second  or  third  twelve  in  the  thirty-six  numbers, 
or  one  of  the  three  columns  in  which  the  numbers  are  arranged 
on  the  board,  or  on  the  colors,  or  odd  or  even,  or  on  what  is 
called  “ manque  et  passe,”  the  former  signifying  the  numbers 
from  one  to  eighteen,  and  the  latter  those  from  nineteen  to 
thirty-six.  Betting  on  the  columns,  or  the  dozens,  against  which 
the  bank  pays  two  to  one.  is  a favorite  game  for  punters,  who 
potter  about  the  room  with  a handful  of  five-franc  pieces,  and 
struggle  all  day  long  to  win  or  lose  a louis  or  two.  Twenty 
francs  is  a louis,  in  the  language  of  the  gamester.  However  he 
may  bet,  the  advantage  is  ever  preserved  by  the  table. 

One  of  the  strangest  cases  of  getting  a living  that  I ever 
heard  of,  was  that  of  a man  who  gave  lessons  to  would-be 
visitors  to  Monte  Carlo,  in  the  gentle  art  of  beating  the  bank 
when  they  arrive  there.  The  man  poses  as  a professor  in  this 
line,  and  charges  the  sum  of  $5  for  half  an  hour’s  lesson.  Let  me 
say  right  here  that  it  is  useless  for  anyone  to  throw  their  money 
away  on  a proposition  of  this  kind,  for  the  only  sure  way  to  beat 
the  bank  is  to  let  it  alone  entirely.  Is  it  likely  that  a man,  if  he 
had  discovered  a secret  wherewith  to  beat  the  bank  at  iMonte 
Carlo,  would  divulge  the  secret  for  a small  sum  when  he  could 
work  the  system  right  on  the  spot  and  so  pocket  the  winnings 
for  his  own  benefit? 

The  company  which  now  controls  the  Casino  at  iMonte  Carlo, 
has  provided  a fund  to  send  home  gamblers  who  have  lost  their  all 
in  the  gambling  rooms.  The  granting  of  the  viatique  is  con- 
stantly being  carried  on.  The  broken  gambler  who  presents  him- 
self at  a small  office  in  the  central  saloon  of  the  Casino  is,  if  he 
is  found  to  be  a bona  fide  loser,  handed  the  price  of  a second- 
class  railway  ticket  to  his  home,  whether  his  home  be  in  New 
York,  London,  or  Jerusalem,  and  enough  extra  money  for  his 
meals  on  the  journey.  An  Englishman  is  usually  given  from  $40 
to  $60.  Each  broken  gambler,  who  receives  the  viatique,  signs 
a receipt  for  the  money  handed  to  him,  surrenders  his  card  of 
admission  to  the  Casino,  and  is  told  that  he  wfill  not  be  allowed 
again  to  enter  the  gambling  rooms  until  he  has  paid  back  the 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


177 


loan.  It  is  said  that  the  company  assists  losers  to  the  extent 
of  $40,000  a year. 

Gambling  is  not  the  only  method  by  which  the  visitors  to 
Monte  Carlo  lose  their  money.  Pickpockets  are  plenteous  and 
carry  on  a large  business. 

While  playing  at  the  gaming  tables  in  the  Casino,  the  wife 
of  a prominent  member  of  the  British  colony  in  Paris,  found  sud- 
denly that  someone  had  opened  her  bag  and  stolen  her  purse, 
which  contained  several  hundred  dollars.  In  a letter  to  her 
husband  she  writes : 

“ It  was  about  five  o’clock  when  they  entered  my  complaint 
and  a description  of  the  purse  in  the  ledger.  I returned  after 
seven  o’clock,  and  the  clerk  had  to  turn  back  three  pages  to  find 
the  entry. 

“ ‘ Surely,’  I said,  ‘ these  are  not  all  losses  that  have  occurred 
since  I was  here  two  hours  ago?’ 

“ ‘ Yes,  madam,  they  are,’  he  replied,  ‘ and  it’s  the  same  every 
day.’  ” 

The  writer  thinks  that  losses  is  scarcely  the  right  word  to 
use.  She  relates  the  case  of  another  Englishwoman  who  was 
robbed  of  $1,000  in  the  same  way  as  herself.  The  victim  actually 
caught  a woman’s  hand  in  her  bag  and  she  held  on  until  some  de- 
tectives arrived,  but  the  thief  had  already  passed  the  notes  to  an 
accomplice,  and  she  was  allowed  to  go. 

W’here  can  language  be  found  to  express  the  awful  situa- 
tion that  exists  at  Monte  Carlo  by  the  number  of  suicides  that 
occur  day  by  day.  The  average  is  said  to  be  not  less  than  one 
for  each  day  of  the  year.  Some  mother’s  boy  goes  out  into  the 
world  to  “ sow  his  wild  oats,”  and  eventually  finds  himself  at 
Monte  Carlo.  He  is  in  for  everything  that  is  going  on,  for  he 
wishes  to  be  considered  a good  fellow  by  his  associates,  and  it 
is  no  difficult  matter  to  find  “ professional  ” friends  at  these  re- 
sorts. They  lead  the  young  man  on  until  he  is  thoroughly  de- 
bauched by  sin  and  wickedness.  Wine,  women,  and  gambling, — 
the  devil’s  trinity — play  an  important  part  in  his  ultimate  down- 
fall. He  becomes  so  satiated  with  these  various  forms  of  vice, 
that  after  awhile  he  awakes  to  the  consciousness  that  they  have 
robbed  him  of  all  manhood,  honor,  and  respect ; of  his  money 
and  reputation.  A man  can  commence  to  obtain  money  by  com- 
mencing at  the  bottom  rung  of  the  ladder,  but  a reputation  is 
not  to  be  so  easily  regained.  The  mother  at  home  is  thinking  of 


178 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


the  welcome  she  shall  prepare  for  the  home  coming  of  her  boy, 
and  of  the  loving  kiss  she  shall  bestow  upon  him,  while  the  boy — 
conscious  that  he  has  disgraced  his  mother,  conscious  that  he  has 
lost  all  else  worth  having, — seeks  consolation  in  suicide.  A few 
days  later  the  newspaper  prints  a notice  to  the  effect  that  “ the 
son  of  Mrs.  So  and  So,  who  has  been  travelling  in  foreign  parts, 
has  been  lost  and  given  up  as  dead.” 


What 
What 
What 
What 
What 
What 
What 
What 
W'hat 
lature  ? 
What 
What 


QUESTIONS. 

merchant  wants  a gambler  for  a clerk? 

boss  wants  a gambler  for  a workman? 

foreman  wants  a gambler  for  an  apprentice? 

family  wants  a gambler  for  a doctor? 

firm  wants  a gambler  for  a salesman  ? 

bank  wants  a gambler  for  a cashier? 

depositor  wants  a gambler  for  a banker? 

railway  wants  a gambler  for  a conductor? 

citizen  wants  a gambler  to  represent  him  in  the  legis- 

boy  would  wish  to  learn  so  disgraceful  a trade? 
woman  wants  a gambler  for  a husband? 


THE  RACE-TRACK:  A NATIONAL  VICE. 


If  reckless  indulgence  of  games  of  chance  of  every  descrip- 
tion, in  lottery  enterprizes,  in  the  board  of  trade,  and  in  the  pool- 
room,  can  be,  as  it  is,  appropriately  denominated  as  a “ national 
vice,”  that  appellation  belongs  with  especial  emphasis  to  the 
gambling  of  the  race-track.  This  is  true,  probably,  mainly  be- 
cause of  the  fatal  facility  with  which  contact  is  there  had  with 
the  evil  influence  that  draws  boys,  aye,  even  women  and  girls, 
into  its  deadly  toils.  The  race-track  is  governed  by  presumably 
respectable  persons.  It  has  the  convincing  support  of  the  press, 
universally,  to  sustain  its  claims  to  harmlessness.  Church  mem- 
bers and  people  of  recognized  reputable  position,  bankers, 
merchants  and  professional  men  are  openly  seen  “ making  their 
bets,”  in  the  face  of  thousands  of  their  fellow  citizens.  Women 
surrender  to  the  glamour  of  its  fascinations,  and  may  be  seen  in 
numbers,  any  day  on  any  grand-stand,  “ backing  ” their  favorite 
in  the  race.  In  the  face  of  such  example  as  this,  then,  how  can 
we  expect  that  the  youth  of  the  land  shall  escape?  Already  they 
are  sufficient!}"  imbued  in  their  personal  and  business  ambition 
with  the  spirit  of  speculation  that  pervades  the  nation,  and  in  the 
feverish  haste  to  get  rich  suddenly  are  ready  to  turn  to  any  re- 
sort that  may  seem  to  offer  them  the  opportunity  of  making 
large  winnings  for  a small  investment.  True,  the  youth  may 
have  been  warned  by  a pious  mother  or  a prudent  father  that 
gambling  is  a vice,  and  one  of  the  most  dangerous  and  pernicious 
of  all  that  threaten  the  interests,  the  welfare  and  even  the  safety 
of  society.  But  when  the  young  man  sees  the  pillar  of  the 
church,  or  the  refined  lady  leader  of  society,  who  mayhap  occu- 
pies the  front  pew  in  the  church  which  he  attends,  openly  pat- 
ronizing gambling,  is  it  any  cause  for  wonder  that  he  concludes 
the  good  counsel  which  he  brought  from  home  was  merely  a mis- 
take, and  that  there’s  “ no  harm  in  it  ” after  all?  At  once  in  the 
circle  of  that  treacherous  maelstrom  of  vice,  at  first  imperceptibly 
to  himself  and  in  slow  and  apparently  safe  revolutions,  he  is 
gradually  but  irresistibly  drawn  to  the  fatal  gulf,  in  which 
character,  integrity,  hope,  and  the  best  opportunities  of  life  are 
remorselessly  swallowed  up. 


179 


180 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


Every  bet  that  is  made  upon  a race-course  is  emphatically 
and  indisputably  participation  in  the  commonest  kind  of  a lottery 
— is  gambling  pure  and  simple , and  if  it  has  been  found  neces- 
sary by  Congress,  acting  upon  the  advice  of  the  National  Execu- 
tive, to  legislate  against  the  existence  of  the  incorporated  lot- 
teries that  exist  by  State  authority,  why  is  it  not  equally  the  duty 
of  Congress  to  declare  all  betting  unlawful?  This  is  not  a new 
proposition.  Linder  the  existing  laws  the  illegality  of  gambling 
by  betting  is  recognized  in  the  refusal  of  the  courts  to  enforce 
debts  or  contracts  incurred  under  a bet.  If  the  principle  were 
logically  carried  out,  it  would  afford  a safeguard  to  society  which, 
as  yet,  moral  sentiment  appears  to  have  been  unable  to  entend. 
But  what  moral  restraints,  the  teaching  of  parents  and  the.  ex- 
hortations of  the  clergy,  have  failed  to  achieve,  may  be  accom- 
plished by  what  this  book  contains : by  tearing  away  the  mask 
of  harmless  sport  from  the  death’s-head  that  grins  behind  it, 
and  exposing,  in  all  its  hideous  nakedness,  not  the  moral  wrong 
that  there  is  in  the  vice  of  gambling  by  betting,  but  the  personal 
rascality  toward  the  individual,  the  plain  and  evident  object  of 
robbery  that  is  involved  in  all  the  schemes  of  the  book-maker,  the 
pool-seller,  and  every  other  person  who  makes  either  a profession 
or  a systematic  practice  of  offering  bets  upon  the  results  of  the 
race-track. 

The  Pool-Room.  This  is  one  of  the  most  nefarious  of  all  the 
modern  instruments  of  evil,  and  ought  to  be  summarily  abolished 
by  specific  law  in  every  State  in  the  Union.  Its  worst  feature, 
perhaps — in  addition  to  the  fact  that  it  is  a skin  game  played 
to  catch  “ suckers,”  as  the  gamblers  term  their  latest  dupes — 
is  that  it  seeks  out  and  offers  opportunity  to  a class  of  citizens 
who  could  never  be  reached  by  these  machinations  by  any  other 
way.  Clerks,  students,  apprentices,  and  such,  would  in  all  proba- 
bility never  have  the  time  nor  the  means  to  squander  in  a trip  to 
New  York  to  Sheepshead  Bay,  to  witness  a horse-race.  He  can 
visit  them  at  his  noon  hour  or  in  the  idle  hours  of  his  evening 
rest.  Here  he  is  deluded  into  the  belief  that  a small  investment 
will  bring  a rich  return,  and  is  easily  wheedled  b}^  a “ capper  ” 
into  investing  his  small  hoard  in  “ tips  ” that  he  is  assured  are 
certain  to  win.  Of  course  he  loses,  and  to  retrieve  his  loss  will 
probably  go  to  his  employers’  funds  to  get  the  means  to  continue 
his  play.  And  so  from  bad  to  worse  till  exposure  and  ruin  over- 
take him. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


181 


Pool-rooms  are  conducted  upon  the  science  of  exactness,  not 
only  as  to  the  promptness  and  accuracy  of  the  reports  upon  the 
blackboard,  but  also  with  regard  to  the  certainty  that  the  pool- 
seller  will  be  the  only  one  in  the  room  who  will  be  a sure  winner 
each  time.  The  pool  board  displays  the  whole  course  of  the  race, 
in  its  smallest  details.  It  shows  when  the  horses  are  “ off,”  which 
one  is  “ in  the  lead ; ” which  “ second  ” and  which  “ third ; ” 
how  they  stand  at  the  “ quarter,”  the  “ half,”  the  “ three-quarter,” 
and  their  positions  down  to  the  “ stretch,”  and  within  ten  sec- 
onds after  the  “ finish,”  will  display  which  horse  was  winner, 
and  which  took  second  and  which  took  third  place.  Previous 
to  the  race  the  board  has  reliable  and  definite  information  of  the 
state  of  the  track,  whether  “ fast  ” or  muddy ; gives  the  name 
of  the  jockey  who  is  to  mount  each  horse,  the  weights  and  all 
information  necessaiy  to  the  man  who  governs  his  bets  by  what 
he  considers  the  most  reasonable  chance  to  win. 

The  pool-seller  works  him  gambling  racket  on  what  he  calls 
the  percentage  system.  In  all  pools  sold  by  auction,  he  deducts  a 
certain  sum,  generally  five  to  fifteen  per  cent,  from  the  amount 
of  the  pool,  and  pays  the  balance  to  the  winner.  The  book- 
maker arranges  his  book  with  reference  to  the  “ odds  ” for  or 
against;  that  is,  the  individual  chances  of  each  horse  upon  the 
information  which  he  has  available,  and  which  if  he  be  at  all  ex- 
pert in  the  business  will  enable  him  to  insure  his  personal  suc- 
cess every  time,  except  only  in  the  case  where  all  the  patrons 
buy  the  same  horse  and  that  horse  should  prove  the  winner — a 
contingency  that  is,  however,  not  as  one  to  one  hundred,  and 
about  as  liable  to  happen  as  that  the  sucker  who  has  bought  on 
a “ cinch  tip  ” will  win  the  pot. 

Methods  of  the  “ House.”  Let  it  not  be  supposed,  however, 
that  the  book-maker,  or  his  confederates  who  stand  in  with  him, 
are  to  be  contented  with  a fifteen  per  cent,  upon  the  money  that 
passes  through  the  pool  book.  On  the  contrary,  he  is  the  most 
expert  and  successful  of  all  the  gamblers  who  “ play  the  races.” 
He  is  generally  the  only  one  of  this  nefarious  outfit  who  re- 
ceives a genuine  and  reliable  “ tip.”  His  intimate  relations  with 
the  jockeys,  stablemen  and  all  the  habitues  of  the  training 
stables  and  racing  grounds,  are  such  that  he  is  generally  able  to 
pick  out  a winner,  and  to  discount  the  results  of  a race  in  ad- 
vance. Thus  assured  he  skilfully  sends  out  his  touts  to  give 
“ tips  ” that  will  bring  the  most  grist  to  the  mill,  that  is  to  say. 


1S2 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


to  industriously  disseminate  the  belief  that  that  horse  will  win, 
which  he  knows  has  no  chance  of  success.  Under  this  influence 
the  amateur  sport,  and  the  average  patron  of  the  racing  ground 
or  pool-room,  will  generally  plunge  largely  on  the  horse  they 
imagine  is  to  bring  them  a rich  booty,  while  the  pool-seller  looks 
on  complacently,  knowing  that  all  the  money  in  the  strong  box 
belongs  to  him  as  surely  as  if  the  race  had  been  already  run. 

The  Friendly  “ Tip.”  In  every  pool-room,  amid  the  con- 
glomeration of  representatives  of  “queer  ” industries  always 
there  to  be  found,  is  invariably  a liberal  sprinkling  of  “ cappers  " 
or  “ touts.”  These  are  the  lowest  and  most  contemptible  of  all 
the  instrumentalities  employed  by  the  turf  sharp,  and  the  most 
dangerous  because  they  always  do  their  work  in  the  guise  of 
pretended  friendship,  and  under  the  basest  kind  of  betrayal  of 
confidence.  The  lowest  kind  of  a bunko  steerer  is  a gentleman 
by  comparison  with  this  most  contemptible  of  all  the  crawling 
things  that  infest  this  footstool.  We  have  given  some  insight 
into  the  character  of  his  operations.  Let  it  be  remembered  that 
every  tout  is  in  the  employ  of  the  book-maker;  that  every  man 
who  offers  another  a “ tip  ” on  the  race-course  or  at  a pool-room 
is  a “ tout,”  beyond  any  peradventure,  and  be  certain  that  his 
frank  and  apparently  generous  and  off-handed  advances  are 
but  in  reality  the  means  by  which  he  intends  to  aid  in  the  opera- 
tion of  picking  your  pocket.  He  is  a liar  by  instinct,  by  choice 
and  by  occupation,  and  no  matter  how  engaging  his  manners, 
or  however  plausible  his  representations,  you  may  safely  set 
him  down  as  a thief,  and  deal  with  him  accordingly.  His  very 
approach  is  an  insult  to  the  intelligence  of  every  man  whom  he 
seeks  to  “ play  for  a sucker.” 

Never  a Local  Affair.  It  is  to  be  remembered  that  when  the 
race  meeting  has  closed,  when  the  principal  thieves  with  their 
robber  retainers  have  departed  for  the  scene  of  their  next  activity, 
and  good  people  heave  a sigh  of  relief  that  their  boys  or  their 
clerks  or  their  students  are  now  no  longer  in  danger  of  this  j 
temptation,  their  deadly  influence  still  remains.  While  the  races,  i 
for  instance,  are  progressing  in  St.  Louis,  the  pool-rooms,  the  | 
billiard-rooms  and  saloons,  by  use  of  the  telegraph,  continue  to  j 
keep  alive  the  taint  of  turf  gambling,  to  keep  the  temptation  to  ! 
our  youth  ever  present,  and  to  make  easy  to  all,  the  deadly  | 
descent  to  Avernus.  Here,  too,  the  work  of  the  skin  gambler,  j 
the  jackal  of  his  tribe,  is  made  particularly  easy.  Fraternities 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


183 


of  these  fragrant  personalities  are  organized,  who  between  the 
different  cities  keep  each  other  “ posted  ” on  the  true  tips  on 
races,  and  give  the  very  latest  and  most  reliable  information 
as  to  the  probabilities  of  each  race.  The  dupe  bets  on  the 
regular  “ blackboard  ” reports ; the  scoundrel  upon  a dead  cer- 
tainty. The  robber  rejoices  in  his  good  fortune;  the  victim 
curses  his  “ bad  luck,”  perhaps,  but  has  no  suspicion  that  he 
has  not  had  an  even  chance  for  his  money. 

Pool-Room  Habitues.  If  any  young  man,  or  old  man  for 
that  matter,  who  is  in  the  least  degree  fastidious  upon  the  point 
of  keeping  decent  company,  will  but  get  some  one  acquainted 
with  the  character  of  pool-room  assemblies,  or  take  the  trouble 
to  exercise  judgment  for  himself,  he  will  learn  or  perceive  that 
which  will  make  him  take  himself  speedily  away.  -Here  all  the 
proper  distinctions  of  society  are  violated,  and  the  lawyer  or 
doctor,  lost  by  his  infatuation  to  self-respect,  may  be  observed 
taking  “ pointers  ” from  a ragged  and  ill-smelling  stable-boy. 
The  banker,  with  the  cashier  of  his  competitor,  are  jostling  with 
a frowsy  bootblack ; the  business  man  discusses  the  board  with 
the  pick-pocket;  the  thief  and  gambler  is  everywhere.  The 
odor  of  states  prison  associations  is  upon  many.  The  pimp,  the 
bummer,  the  thug,  the  midnight  housebreaker  and  the  daylight 
robber,  all  mingle  in  the  throng  w^th  the  representatives  of  busi- 
ness probity  and  youthful  innocence — with  the  prop  and  stay 
of  one  family,  and  with  the  hope  and  pride  of  another  household. 
If  it  were  not  for  the  fascination  that  centers  upon  the  betting 
board  and  renders  decency  oblivious  to  its  shameful  surround- 
ings, no  man  of  sense,  with  a spark  of  manhood  or  self-respect 
about  him,  could,  for  a moment  endure  the  contamination  of  sur- 
roundings so  degrading.  The  scene  is  one  of  the  most  repulsive 
that  any  pure  mind  could  conceive.  It  is  the  monstrous  anomaly 
presented  of  the  vesture  of  life  with  warp  of  virtue  and  woof  of 
vice. 

The  Lady  Gambler.  At  the  race-meet  we  may  observe  the 
lady  of  fashion  in  her  costly  equipage  stopping  to  dispatch  her 
coachman  for  a card,  and  to  take  instructions  for  a tip.  Of 
course  he  gets  the  tip,  for  he  knows  where  to  go  for  it.  He  and 
the  tout  are  pals,  and  after  the  lady  shall  have  lost  every  one  of 
her  eager  and  confident  ventures  and  leaves  the  ground  with 
pocket-book  light  and  disappointment  in  her  heart,  we  may  get 
a glimpse  at  the  decorous  coachee  as  he  smiles  softly  to  himself, 


184 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


and  thinks  upon  the  liberal  portion  of  his  mistress’  money 
he  will  have  to  divide  with  the  tout  in  the  evening,.  Ladies  who 
visit  the  race-track  to  bet  are  carefully  “ spotted their  servants 
are  suborned,  and  they  become  the  very  easiest  and  silliest  vic- 
tims that  fall  to  the  lot  of  the  “ fancy.” 

The  Confidential  Stake-Holder.  A common  swindle  in  the 
crowd  at  the  pool-seller’s  stand  at  the  track  is  the  eager  and  ex- 
cited young  man  who  is  victimized  by  a brace  of  sharpers.  The\^ 
have  watched  him  and  sized  him  up ; they  recognize  when  he  is 
ripe  enough  to  pick  and  then  dexterously  perform  the  operation 
of  gathering  him  in.  “ Bet  two  to  one  on  Susie  G,”  cries  iMr. 
Verdant  Green,  after  a short  argument  with  his  elbow  neighbor. 
“I’ll  take  you,”  retorts  the  other,  counting  out  his  bills,  “we’ll 
put  the  money  into  the  hands  of  this  gentleman  here.”  Benevo- 
lent-looking rascal,  who  has  been  abstractedly  looking  the  other 
way,  is  appealed  to  and  consents  to  be  the  depositary  of  the 
wagers.  The  race  is  on ; excitement  becomes  intense ; everv- 
body  is  straining  eyes  upon  the  flying  horses.  Not  so  the  con- 
fidential stake-holder  and  his  friend.  They  have  gone  from  the 
gaze  of  Mr.  Verdant  Green — “ though  lost  to  sight,  to  memory 
dear.”  If  they  could  be  found  ten  minutes  later  they  might  be 
discovered  in  the  act  of  dividing  an  easil}^  earned  “ swag.” 

Skin  Games  Outside  the  Track.  One  of  the  very  worst  fea- 
tures that  attend  race  meetings  is  the  unavoidable  presence,  at 
every  point  of  proximity  to  the  race-track,  and  lining  every  ap- 
proach and  avenue  to  the  central  scene,  of  all  the  known  skin 
games  of  which  the  reader  of  this  book  will  have  been  afforded 
amiple  knowledge  elsewhere.  Here  assemble  the  three-card 
monte  swindler,  the  shell-game  shark,  the  wheel  of  fortune  fakir, 
and  in  short  every  conceivable  representative  of  the  smaller 
forms  of  swindling  by  means  of  the  practice  of  gambling.  They 
cannot,  it  is  true,  get  into  the  enclosure.  Race-track  representa- 
tives draw  the  line  of  its  virtue  there.  True  they  are  not  a whit 
worse  than  their  brethren  inside,  who  play  for  higher  game. 
Both  are  merely  plundering  honest  people  by  means  of  gambling 
schemes.  It  is  the  case  of  the  pot  saying  to  the  kettle,  “ Keep 
off;  I fear  you  may  besmut  me.”  But  the  shell  game  man  and 
his  confreres  do  not  hanker  to  be  within  the  sacred  high  fence. 
The}^  can  catch  their  kind  of  suckers  just  as  Avell  outside,  as 
they  come  and  go;  and  many  a confiding  innocent  beside,  who 
has  not  enough  money  to  buy  a seat  on  the  grand  stand,  nor 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


185 


to  make  a bet  on  the  race,  has  yet  sufficient  to  lose  by  the  turn 
of  the  wheel.  They  are  not  particular,  bless  you,  these  smaller 
knaves.  They  do  not  want  the  earth.  So  long  as  they  get  all 
the  sucker  has  got,  even  thor;gh  it  be  a little,  they  are  content.* 

Ways  that  are  Dark  and  Tricks  that  are  not  Vain.  In  no 
other  enterprise  is  it  more  frequently  demonstrated  that  “ the 
race  is  not  always  to  the  swift.”  It  is  a not  uncommon  practice 
for  owners  of  a horse  by  confederacy  with  book-makers,  and 
other  necessary  aids,  to  groom  a horse  to  win  a heavy  stake  upon 
a dead  certainty.  First  the  horse  and  his  capabilities  are  dis- 
covered. Then  he  is  ridden  in  one  or  two  races  to  lose.  He  be- 
comes regarded  as  a permanent  tail-ender.  His  appearance  on 
the  blackboard  is  greeted  with  derision.  Reports  are  circulated 
that  the  horse  is  “ sick,”  particularly  just  before  the  event  for 
which  he  is  being  held  back.  He  makes  his  appearance  when 
the  time  has  come.  Nobody  will  bet  on  him.  The  wildest  sort 
of  odds  against  him  are  cheerfully  offered,  and  as  quietly  gath- 
ered in  by  the  confederates  of  the  owner  and  pool-seller.  He 
takes  the  field  and  comes  in  an  easy  winner  in  such  a handsome 
manner  that  old  sports  who  were  not  in  the  combine,  recognize, 
with  words  not  loud  but  deep,  as  they  go  down  into  their  pockets 
to  settle,  that  they  have  been  “ sold  again.”  In  this  as  in  all 
other  ways  the  average  bettor  or  amateur  gambler  stands  no 
show.  He  has  no  chance,  though  he  may  think  he  has.  He  is 
simply  food  for  sharks. 

The  Jockey.  As  the  “ king  maker  ” to  the  claimant  to  the 
thrones  of  the  days  of  old,  so  the  jockey  to  the  horse  race,  and 
to  the  high  hopes  which  rest  upon  the  particular  animal  in  his 
charge.  The  jockey  is  generally  the  kind  of  person  who  would 
be  a stable-boy.  a bootblack  or  a street  sweeper,  if  he  were  not 
a jockey.  Being  a jockey,  he  is  clothed  in  purple  and  fine  linen, 
and  gets  his  $10,000  or  $12,000  per  year — which  would  pay 
salaries  for  two  ministers  of  the  gospel  of  the  very  first  water, 
or  at  least  four  superintendents  of  schools.  Is  the  jockey  paid 
this  magnificent  salary  for  being  a jockey?  Not  at  all;  nor  is  he 
paid  for  being  honest.  It  is  for  being  honest  to  his  employer  in 
carrying  out  his  wishes  in  regard  to  the  horse,  as  it  may  happen 
to  be  more  profitable  to  the  owner  to  win  or  lose.  Do  jockeys 
ever  sell  a race?  Probably:  sometimes  in  obedience  to  the 
orders  of  the  owner,  and  occasionally  on  his  own  account.  In 
the  latter  event  it  is  generally  his  last  race ; but  he  can  afford  to 


18G 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


retire  to  an  opulent  private  life,  for  his  reward  is  exceedingly 
liberal.  Who  shall  tell  when  the  jockey  is  riding  honestly  or 
dishonestly?  He  alone  knows  the  minutest  shade  of  the  temper 
and  capacity  of  the  horse.  Half  a nose  may  lose  the  race  when 
he  has  seemed  to  have  done  his  best.  And  yet  he  might  have 
won  by  a neck  had  he  so  elected.  The  plain  amateur,  everyday 
sport  who  is  slated  to  be  swindled  in  any  case,  as  well  as  the 
anxious  owner,  the  vendor  of  pools,  and  the  maker  of  books,  are 
all  at  the  mercy  of  the  discretion  of  the  jockey.  Hence  the  frills 
upon  his  raiment;  hence  a salary  so  large  that  it  is  concluded 
that  life  can  offer  him  no  other  temptations.  In  very  many  in- 
stances, indeed,  the  jockey  is  the  instrument  through  whom 


the  thousands  of  dupes  are  sold,  the  owner  sometimes  directing  \ 
the  robbery,  and  on  other  occasions  being  included  in  the  list  of  j 
goods  delivered.  The  high-salaried  jockey  is  a part  of  an  evil 
system.  Take  away  the  gambling  feature  from  horse  racing,  • 
and  let  us  have  an  honest  sport,  and  the  jockey  v.'ould  be  glad  ! 
indeed  to  ride  “ square  ” for  a reasonable  wage.  And  there  will  i 
be  no  honest  competitions  of  speed  on  the  race-track  until  the  j 
immoral,  rascally  and  thieving  element  of  betting  on  the  result,  j 
or  gambling,  as  you  may  be  pleased  to  term  it,  has  been  abol- 
ished, either  by  legal  enactment,  by  public  opinion,  or  by  re-  ^ 
pudiation  on  the  part  of  the  people  who  now  patronize  it — in  ^ 
which  latter  case,  the  victims  refusing  to  come  to  the  fold  to  ■ 
be  sheared  as  they  do  now.  the  evil  would  die  for  want  of  pockets 
to  pick. 

The  Gambling  Mania.  Speaking  of  the  universality  of  this 
gambling  mania,  a story  goes  that  some  years  ago  a St.  Louis 
wholesale  merchant’s  cashier  came  to  him  one  day  and  said ; , 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


187 


“I  should  like  to  get  away  this  morning,  sir;  my  sister  is 
to  be  married  to-day.” 

“ Certainly,  certainly,”  said  the  good-natured  merchant. 

Presently  came  the  book-keeper,  with  a rueful  countenance, 
and  said : 

“ I’m  feeling  very  unwell,  sir,  and  if  you  could  spare  me,  I’d 
like  to  be  excused  for  to-day.” 

The  amiable  merchant  cheerfully  gave  the  requested  per- 
mission. Shortly  after  the  errand  boy  appeared. 

“ Please  sir,  my  grandmother  died  last  night,  and  she’s  to 
be  buried  this  afternoon.  Please  may  I go  home?” 

“ To  be  sure,  my  boy,”  said  the  merchant.  “ Sorry  for  your 
mother;  here’s  a quarter  for  you.” 

‘‘  Well,”  soliloquized  the  merchant,  “ since  they’re  all  gone, 
I might  as  well  shut  up  shop.  I guess  I’ll  call  and  see  the  doctor 
to-day.” 

At  the  doctor’s  he  got  word  that  the  physician  had  just  been 
called  away  to  visit  a patient  in  the  country,  so  he  concluded  to 
do  some  business  with  his  lawyer.  At  the  latter’s  office  he  dis- 
covered that  the  man  of  law  had  gone  to  file  a paper  in  the  pro- 
bate court. 

“ Well,  if  I can’t  see  anybody,”  said  he  to  himself,  “ I might 
just  as  well  go  over  to  the  races  a while.” 

As  he  approached  the  grand  stand  he  observed  astride  the 
roof  a small  animate  object,  which  closer  inspection  proved  to 
him  was  his  office  boy,  who  was  thus  attending  his  grand- 
mother’s funeral.  In  front  of  the  stand  stood  the  doctor  hold- 
ing a roll  of  bills  in  one  hand,  and  shouting  for  bets  on  his  favor- 
ite horse.  Up  on  the  stand  he  observed  the  lawyer  wildly 
swinging  his  hat  and  hallooing  like  a maniac.  Passing  around 
the  corner  of  the  stand  he  came  upon  his  sick  clerk  and  the  one 
who  was  marrying  his  sister,  each  with  a schooner  of  lager  in  his 
hand  and  in  an  evidently  hilarious  condition. 

“ Well,”  mused  he,  “ King  David  was  a good  judge  of 
human  nature  when  he  said,  ‘ All  men  are  liars.’  ” 

We  must  have  an  honest  human  race  before  we  can  have  an 
honest  horse  race. 


“ The  picture  above  shows  a popular  POOR  UMAX’S  CLUB 
in  a thriving  Illinois  town. 

“ It  is  the  best  patronized  and  by  far  the  most  profitable 
place  in  the  neighborhood. 

“ Its  principal  feature  is  the  bar,  the  same  as  in  ordinary 
saloons,  but  it  is  a real  CLUB  for  the  poor  man  because  it  en- 
ables him  to  pass  an  hour  or  an  evening  just  as  pleasantly  as 
the  rich  man  can  do  it  in  HIS  club. 

“ It  is  a place  where  a man  can  drop  in  any  time,  and  find 
something  that  will  amuse  and  interest  him  as  long  as  he  cares 
to  stay. 

“ Patrons  of  this  club  don't  feel  they  have  to  take  a drink 
every  few  minutes — and  the  proprietor  doesn’t  care  whether 
they  do  or  not.  There  are  plenty  of  other  things  to  do — and  they 
pay  the  house  just  as  Avell. 

“ Patrons  can  try  their  luck  on  various  games  of  chance. 

“ They  can  ‘ take  a whirl  at  the  wheel.’ 

“ They  can  exercise  by  punching  the  bag. 

“ They  can  test  their  strength  and  prowess  in  various  ways. 

“ They  can  see  the  latest  pictures  and  hear  the  latest  vocal 
and  instrumental  hits  from  the  plays  and  operas. 

“ They  can  buy  gum,  candy,  chocolate,  etc.,  to  take  home 
to  the  kids,  or  for  their  own  consumption. 

iss 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


ISO 


“ These  attractions  get  the  club  the  steady  patronage  of  all 
the  social  men  in  the  community,  bringing  in  many  who  would 
not  ordinarily  patronize  a saloon,  and  greatly  increasing  the 
business  of  the  bar — yet  the  running  expense  is  not  a cent  more 
than  when  the  place  was  an  ordinary  saloon. 

“ It  is  a case  of  ‘ Everything  coming  in  and  nothing  going 
out,’  simply  because  the  proprietor  of  this  club  has  learned 

“THE  ART  OF  MAKING  MONEY  AUTOMAT- 
ICALLY.” 

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 

The  above  cut  and  description  of  “ The  Poor  Man’s  Club,” 
are  sent  out  by  a firm  of  manufacturers,  as  an  introduction  to 
their  slot  machines,  some  of  which  are  illustrated  in  these  pages ; 
and  which,  in  my  opinion,  constitute  gambling  devices. 

If  they  are  recommended  to  the  keepers  of  saloons,  billiard 
and  pool  rooms,  bowling  alleys,  cigar  stores,  etc.,  as  great  money 
makers,  it  necessarily  follows  that  those  who  are  foolish  or  ig- 
norant enough  to  go  up  against  them,  must  lose  their  money 
easily. 

I met  a young  man  one  day  who  told  me  that  he  had  been  a 
constant  player  on  these  machines,  and  had  lost  several  hundred 
dollars,  in  consequence  of  which  he  was  unable  to  complete  his 
education  by  going  to  college  as  he  had  intended ; but  he  re- 
ceived an  “ education  ” that  will  follow  him  through  life,  and 
which  has  taught  him  the  lesson  that  “ he  could  not  beat  the 
other  fellow  at  his  own  game.” 

A minister  of  the  gospel  once  asked  me  if  it  were  not  pos- 
sible to  put  the  slot  machines  which  pay  out  money  out  of  busi- 
ness, because  he  was  anxious  that  they  should  be  if  it  were  at 
all  possible,  for  his  boy  had  such  an  inclination  for  them  that  he 
could  hardly  keep  him  awa^r  from  them.  I told  him  they  were 
against  the  law  and  we  then  made  arrangements  to  have  them 
confiscated. 

While  giving  my  demonstrations  of  crooked  gambling  de- 
vices in  Cleveland  some  time  ago,  a federal  government  official 
came  to  me  and  asked  me  how  to  put  the  slot  machines  out  of 
business  which  were  in  operation  on  the  boats  on  the  lake.  I 
gave  him  all  the  particulars  I could  about  the  machines,  and  what 
course  to  take  in  getting  rid  of  them.  To-day  they  are  not  al- 
lowed to  operate  on  the  boats,  having  been  ordered  out  by  the 
authority  of  the  federal  government. 


190  GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES.  ' 

I oppose  these  slot  machines  as  gambling  devices  on  the 
principle  that  “ to  gamble,  is  to  play  for  money  or  other  stakes.” 
Some  of  these  machines  pay  out  rewards  in  coin,  and  some  of 
them  in  checks,  which  are  redeemable  in  trade  to  the  amount 
marked  on  the  checks. 

Let  the  reader  study  carefully  the  description  of  the  follow- 
ing machine.  If  this  is  not  gambling  then  I should  like  to  know 
what  is.  It  is  here  reproduced  exactly  as  it  is  advertised  by  the 
manufacturers : 


It  is  ‘‘On  The  Level’’ 

THE  HOTTEST  PROPOSITION  YET 


Eight  inches  square 


SIX  SLOTS. 

One  25c  Two  10c  Three  Sc 
Shoot  25c  on  the  field,  pays  50c 
Shoot  10c  on  7 or  11,  pays  40c 
Shoot  10c  on  field.  pays  25c 
Shoot  5c  on  7 or  J 1 , pays  20c 

Shoot  5c  on  over  7,  pays  10c 

Shoot  5c  on  under  7,  pays  10c 
They  can’t  resist  it. 

Good  for  $50.00  a day. 


Now  I have  never  known  any  gambling  that  was  ” on  the 
level  ” in  all  the  years  that  I followed  the  profession.  If  a 
“ friendly  ” game  of  cards  is  being  played  there  is  generally  some 
one  among  the  number  of  players  who  will  try  to  do  a little 
cheating  on  his  own  account,  but  should  they  be  professional 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


191 


players,  then  there  seems  to  be  no  end  to  the  number  of  schemes 
devised  with  which  to  cheat  the  unsuspecting  victim. 

On  the  machine  illustrated  above,  six  persons  can  play  at 
one  time.  In  the  “ poor  man’s  club  ” the  saloon  keeper  does  not 
care  whether  the  customers  take  whisky  or  not,  for  “ there  are 
plenty  of  other  things  to  do — and  they  pay  the  house  just  as 
well.”  This  machine  is  one  of  them.  If  a man  comes  in  with 
his  weekly  wages  and  commences  to  play  on  this  machine,  he 
would  indeed  find  it  a “ hot  proposition,”  for  it  would  not  take 
many  minutes  to  burn  a hole  into  his  pockets.  He  would  be 
very  “ lucky  ” if  he  could  get  home  with  enough  money  in  his 
pockets  with  which  to  pay  his  board  bill.  The  mechanism  of 
these  machines  are  very  much  on  the  same  principle,  and  it  is 
possible  for  the  proprietor  to  “ fix  ” the  machinery  and  so 
change  the  percentage,  whenever  he  deems  it  necessary  to  do  so. 
In  fact,  all  you  have  to  do,  is  to  “ shoot  ” your  money  into  the 
slot,  and  there  is  always  a place  ready  to  receive  it. 

Here  is  a machine  made  expressly  for  this  purpose,  and  is 
known  as 


THE  MANILA. 

This  is  supposed  to  be  “ a game  of  skill,  pure  and  simple,  but 
so  fascinating  that  it  will  hold  the  crowd  like  no  other  machine 
yet  placed  on  the  market  has  ever  done.” 

To  operate  this  machine  the  player  puts  a nickel  into  the 
pistol  and  shoots  it  at  one  of  the  four  slots  shown  in  the  farther 
end  of  the  glass  covered  tube.  If  the  aim  is  correct,  he  pulls  the 
button  in  front  of  the  machine  corresponding  to  the  slot  into 
which  coin  was  shot  and  the  machine  automatically  delivers  a 
prize,  good  in  trade  for  the  amount  indicated  thereon. 

The  coin  very  rarely  goes  into  the  slot.  It  might  get  there 
by  accident.  Skill  really  plays  a very  little  part  in  its  operation. 
In  some  stores  where  it  is  operated  the  proprietor  will  give  an 
extraordinary  cheap  cigar  for  every  nickel  played,  but  the  major- 
ity give  nothing.  Then  again,  should  the  player  be  successful  in 
shooting  the  nickels  into  the  slots,  then  the  rewards  are  of  differ- 
ent value,  and  this  in  itself  constitutes  gambling,  for  he  receives 
more  than  an  equivalent. 

Boys  and  girls  are  initiated  into  the  arts  of  gambling  by  the 
use  of  these  slot  machines.  I have  seen  their  eagerness  to  get  a 


192 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


penny  with  which  to  play  on  one  of  these  machines.  They  are 
not  old  enough  to  know  evil  connected  with  gambling,  and  they 


would  probably  not  understand  it  if  they  were  told  that  it  was 
gambling.  It  seems  just  fun  for  them  to  drop  a penny  in  the  slot 
and  watch  its  operation  until  it  falls  into  one  of  the  grooves  pro- 
vided for  it,  and  which  denotes  the  amount  of  the  reward. 

The  most  popular  slot  machine  for  children  is  shown  in  the 
accompanying  cut,  and  is  known  as 


THE  LITTLE  DREAM. 

The  manufacturer’s  description  is  better  than  any  I could 
give,  and  so  for  that  reason  I leave  it  to  the  reader  to  judge  for 
himself,  and  is  as  follows ; 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


193 


“ It  is  no  idle  dream.  It’s 
always  busy.  It’s  never  inter- 
fered with.  You  get  a lot  for 
a little  when  you  buy  it  and 
the  same  when  you  operate  it. 

“ Absolutely  lawful,  en- 
titles player  to  at  least  a piece 
of  gum  with  every  cent  played, 
or  a five-cent  package  when 
played  with  nickels. 

“ Gives  bigger  prizes  when 
coins  go  in  certain  compart- 
ments, and  that’s  what  makes 
them  play  it. 

“ Players  are  after  big 
prizes  and  usually  don’t  take 
the  gum  they  win. 

“ Good  for  operation  be- 
cause every  coin  played  in  and  every  cash  prize  paid  out  are  ac- 
curately registered. 

“ Will  take  in  from  $1’3  to  $'10  per  week,  with  net  profits  of 
from  $G  to  $12. 

‘‘  First  class  gum  is  furnished  by  us  at  $4  per  1,000. 

For  operation  in  stores  and  where  game  machines  are  not 
permitted  it  cannot  be  beaten.” 

In  one  raid  where  about  ninety  keepers  of  saloons,  cigar 
stands,  fruit  stores,  etc.,  were  arrested  for  operating  slot  ma- 
chines as  gambling  devices,  the  machines  being  confiscated  and 
made  into  a bonfire,  several  of  these  machines  were  brought  in, 
and  in  every  case  where  they  were  charged  with  operating  this 
particular  kind  of  machine,  a plea  of  guilty  was  entered. 

A special  note  is  made  of  the  fact  that  the  gum  is  not  usu- 
ally taken,  even  if  won,  for  players  are  after  the  big  prizes.  I 
do  not  call  this  a legitimate  gum  vending  machine  by  any 
means.  I think  the  average  person  who  really  wants  gum 
would  rather  buy  it  in  the  ordinary  way  than  ” take  a chance  ” 
on  this  machine. 


HY-LO  CARD  MACHINE. 

“ The  greatest  draw  poker  machine  ever  built.  Fill  their 
hands  and  your  cash  box. 


194 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


“ The  Hy-Lo  is  entirely  different  from  all  other  draw  poker 
machines. 

“ Player  has  option  of  taking  his  chance  on  one  spin,  or  may 
draw  to  fill  by  paying  an  extra  coin  for  each  card  drawn. 

“ Machine  has  six  slots — Coin  placed  in  slot  at  right  allows 
all  reels  to  spin  when  handle  is  depressed.  To  fill  hand,  player 


must  place  additional  coin  in  individual  slot  over  each  reel  he 
wishes  to  spin. 

“ Player  has  only  one  chance  to  fill,  but  may  ‘ draw  ’ as  many 
cards  as  he  wishes  by  playing  a coin  on  each.  If  first  spin  shows 
aces  on  reels  1,  3 and  5,  pla3'er  may  try  for  full  house  or  four  of 
a kind  by  dropping  coins  in  slots  2 and  4 and  depressing  handle 
again,  when  only  reels  2 and  4 will  spin. 

“ This  feature  makes  the  play  fast  and  furious,  and  puts  the 
Hy-Lo  entirely  out  of  the  class  of  the  machines  that  allow  the 
player  an  unlimited  number  of  draws. 

“ All  coins  played  in  show  in  plain  sight  under  their  re- 
spective slots. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


195 


Slot  which  actuates  all  reels  locks  automatically,  while 
other  slots  are  being  used  in  drawing. 

“ Cards  line  up  perfectly,  and  have  finest  spin  of  any  card 
machine  made. 

“ One  lever  operates  all  reels,  both  on  first  play  and  ‘ draw.’ 

“ Fine  for  operators,  because  it  gets  quick,  steady  play  and 
can’t  be  tampered  with.  iMany  players  will  try  for  four  aces  to 
fill  a hand.  iMachine  gets  one  to  four  extra  coins  every  play, 
and  this  is  why  it  takes  in  six  to  twelve  times  as  much  mone}' 
as  any  other  card  machine  made.” 

These  machines  are  usually  to  be  found  resting  on  a pedes- 
tal, and  sometimes  on  the  counter.  The  description  given  above 
ought  to  be  sufficient  to  show  that  this  is  one  of  the  greatest 
robbers  on  the  market ; and  the  man  who,  after  knowing  how 
they  are  operated,  goes  deliberately  and  places  a machine  of  this 
description  on  his  premises  for  the  sole  purpose  of  fleecing  the 
public,  I sa}^  he  ought  to  be  branded  as  a common  thief  and 
placed  in  the  penitentiary;  and  I would  send  the  person,  who 
supplies  him  with  the  machine,  to  keep  him  company. 


THE  JOCKEY. 

This  is  a card  machine  showing  poker  hands,  but  the  player 
cannot  “ fill  his  hand  ” as  in  the  Hy-Lo. 

” The  Jockey  is  a five-reel  machine  and  all  reels  are  inter- 
changeable. 

“ It  is  quickly  adjusted  to  operate  with  a nickel  or  penny, 
by  simply  removing  a slide. 

” Special  reward  cards  are  furnished,  so  that  machine  may  be 
operated  with  either  nickels  or  pennies. 

“ Three  poker  hands  are  shown  on  the  Jockey.  Three  can 
play  and  it  is  possible  for  three  to  win.  The  hands  are  numbered 
1-2-3  to  correspond  with  the  three  coin  slots,  which  are  dis- 
tinguished from  each  other  by  being  numbered  in  the  same 
manner.  The  last  coins  played  are  exposed  and  they  remain  in 
sight  until  the  next  play.  One  person  can  play  one,  two,  or 
three  hands  at  a time,  or  three  persons  can  play  at  one  time.” 

The  cut  on  the  right  shows  the  appearance  of  the  machine 
when  mounted  on  a cabinet. 

There  are  numerous  kinds  of  card  machines,  and  while  they 


196 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


are  to  be  condemned  as  gambling  devices,  they  should  also  be 
condemned  as  tending  to  educate  the  public  to  the  nature  and 
value  of  poker  hands.'  Many  a young  fellow  who  has  never  been 


addicted  to  playing  cards,  learns  for  the  first  time  what  poker 
means.  He  looks  at  the  machine  and  wonders  what  the  com- 
binations of  the  cards  mean.  The  card  at  the  head  of  the  machine 
specifies  that  certain  rewards  are  given  if  certain  poker  hands  ap- 
pear. He  accordingly  asks  the  attendant  or  some  one  who  may 
happen  to  be  around,  and  is  thus  initiated  into  the  gentle  art  of 
poker.  This  will  probably  lead  him  on  to  a desire  to  play  the 
game  of  poker,  and  eventually,  from  one  stage  to  another,  until 
he  becomes  an  inveterate  gambler. 


THE  COMMERCIAL. 

‘ This  machine  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  latest  products,  and  that 
10,000  of  this  particular  kind  are  in  operation  in  the  State  of 
California  alone.  I have  not  yet  been  to  California,  but  I trust 
many  copies  of  this  book  will  reach  there  and  will  be  read  by 
many  good  citizens  of  that  state,  and  that  they  will  be  moved  to 
action  to  see  that  every  one  of  these  machines  are  put  out  of 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


197 


business.  Let  the  women,  who  have  the  vote  in  California,  do 
their  part  in  ousting  these  machines,  and  thus  remove  another 
temptation  from  their  husbands,  brothers  and  sons. 


One  of  the  first  things  about  this  machine  that  strikes  the 
eve  is  the  announcement  of  “ free  cigars  ” at  the  head  of  the  re- 
ward card.  This  is  very  misleading.  In  the  first  place,  the 
player  may  drop  in  the  nickel  and  receive  nothing  in  return. 
He  may  drop  in  several  nickels  and  yet  not  receive  anything 
back.  Then  again,  he  may  get  a winning  hand  and  receive  from 
1 to  100  cigars.  Supposing  he  wins ; the  operator  does  not  stand 
to  lose  anything,  because  the  machine  works  on  a system  and 
the  percentage  is  so  “ fixed  ” that  the  cigars  which  are  doled  out 
as  rewards,  is  a very  small  consideration  compared  with  the 
amount  of  mone}'  that  is  dropped  into  the  machine. 


198 


GAMBLING  AND  GAAIBLING  DEVICES. 


OWL  AND  JUDGE  TWINS. 


Ten  slots  are  provided  on  these  machines.  Ten  can  play  at 
one  time,  but  only  two  can  win,  providing  any  winning  num- 
bers should  turn  up.  The  combination  of  the  two  machines 
stimulates  the  players  to  compete  with  each  other,  thus  making 
big  money  for  the  machines. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


199 


THE  LITTLE  GEM. 

“ A perfect  card  machine  and  then  some. 

“ AVill  take  in  more  than  its  cost  in  one  day  in  a good  loca- 
tion. 

“ Records  ever}^  coin  played  in  and  tells  business  done  at 
end  of  day. 

“ Red  flag  shows  through  glass  in  back  of  machine ; disap- 
pears when  machine  is  tampered  with.  Cheating  absolutely  pre- 
vented. 


“ Coin  detector  always  shows  last  coin  played  in. 

“ Safety  chute  takes  only  one  coin  at  a time,  and  throws  out 
all  wrong  coins. 

‘‘  iMirror  reflector  enables  proprietor  to  see  the  hand  from 
back  of  counter.  IMechanism  is  easily  accessible  by  opening 
door  in  back  of  case. 

“ Every  seventh  nickel  drops  in  a separate  cash  drawer, 
contents  of  which  may  be  offered  as  additional  prizes  for  draw- 
ing special  hands.  This  Jack  Pot  feature  makes  a big  hit.” 

The  reader  will  notice  in  the  above  description  that  every- 
thing is  so  arranged  to  protect  the  interests  of  the  operator.  A 
special  provision  is  also  made  for  every  seventh  nickel  to  go  into 


200 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


a separate  drawer.  If  the  operator  only  rents  this  machine  on 
commission  from  agent  or  dealer,  then  he  is  usually  kept  in 
ignorance  of  the  operation  of  the  seventh  nickel,  that  being  re- 
served for  the  dealer.  In  Detroit,  a machine  is  manufactured 
that  has  a secret  pocket  for  every  fifth  nickel  played.  This  ma- 
chine is  usually  put  into  a saloon  or  store  on  a commission  basis. 
When  this  secret  pocket  gets  full,  it  invariably  puts  the  machine 
out  of  working  order.  The  operator,  not  knowing  the  cause, 
sends  to  the  firm  which  supplied  the  machine,  and  a man  is  sent 
to  put  the  machine  in  order  again.  Of  course  he  does  not  leave 
this  money  with  the  operator.  It  is  here  shown  that  the  operator 
who  robs  the  public  with  this  particular  machine,  is  in  turn 
robbed  by  the  agent  or  company. 


ROULETTE. 

“ The  most  wonderful  automatic  game  machine  ever  con- 
structed. A genuine  roulette  game  that  is  absolutely  on  the 


square.  Gives  every  player  a fair  chance  for  his  money ; and 
gives  a fair  percentage  to  the  house.  IMore  exciting  than  any 
other  game  invented.  Pa3"s  all  rewards  automatically.  No  at- 
tendant required.” 

This  is  a seven-way  machine,  and  is  made  for  nickels  and 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


201 


quarters.  There  are  80  spaces  on  the  dial  and  are  divided  as  fol- 
lows : 

1 “ 00  ” paying  $2. 

2 “O’’  paying  $1  each. 

3 double  stars,  paying  loc  each. 

5 single  stars,  paying  50c  each. 

20  yellow  crescents,  paying  25c  each. 

Balance  red  and  black,  25c  each. 

The  above  rewards  are  given  when  nickels  are  played. 
When  quarters  are  played  rewards  vary  from  50  cents  to  $10. 
This  is  an  attractive  machine,  and  is  therefore  all  the  more  dan- 


gerous. Where  it  is  at  all  possible  to  obtain  such  big  rewards, 
the  “ suckers  ” will  keep  on  playing  with  the  hope  of  securing 
them.  It  looks  attractive  to  see  $10  offered  for  25  cents,  but 
while  it  may  be  “ offered,”  the  proprietor  will  often  see  to  it  that 
it  will  be  impossible  for  any  one  to  get  it.  It  is  a very  common 


202 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


practice  for  the  operators  of  coin  slot  machines  to  “ plug  ” the 
big  prizes.  Where  there  are  seven  slots  for  money  to  be  played 
into  the  machine,  two  or  three  of  the  tubes  representing  the  high- 
est rewards  will  be  “ plugged.”  Should  the  machine  not  be  doing 
the  amount  of  business  desired  by  the  operator,  he  will  then 
release  the  pay-out  tubes  for  awhile,  with  the  hope  of  drawing 
more  business. 

“ Pays  automatically,  through  tube. 

“ Slots  lock  when  coins  are  played  in,  preventing  more  than 
one  player  playing  the  same  color  at  one  time. 

“ vSlug  detector  shows  last  three  coins  played  on  each  color. 

“ Color  register  shows  which  color  was  played  last. 

“ Mechanism  in  plain  view  from  top  of  machine  which  is 
made  of  glass  and  perfectly  flat. 

“ Ball  is  always  in  sight  of  player  and  it  can  lodge  on  any 
color.” 

Another  form  of  roulette  slot  machine  is  known  as  the 


LITTLE  MONTE  CARLO. 


This  is  a combination  machine,  and  operates  with  either 
nickels  or  pennies.  Read  the  description  carefully,  and  it  will  not 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


203 


be  necessary  for  me  to  explain  the  advantages  that  the  operator 
has  against  those  who  go  up  against  it. 

“ Has  two  slot-plates.  Five-slot  plate  permits  five  to  play  at 
once,  but  only  one  can  win. 

“ Wheel  has  twenty-five  pockets  and  shows  five  colors. 
Winning  number  is  designated  by  pocket  ball  drops  in. 

“ When  one-slot  plate  is  used,  player  gets  cigar  for  each  coin 
played,  and  has  a chance  to  get  from  one  to  four  more  if  ball 
drops  in  any  one  of  five  pockets. 

“ IMachine  has  two  balls  and  six  different  reward  cards  per- 
mitting all  kinds  of  combinations  and  greatly  increasing  play. 

“ Two  outside  slots  can  be  closed,  leaving  center  one  open, 
and  the  Monte  Carlo  is  then  not  a chance  machine.  Cigars  are 
given  with  each  play.” 

It  will  easily  be  seen  that  any  way  the  machine  is  operated, 
there  is  the  element  of  chance,  although  it  is  denied  when  the 
one-slot  plate  is  used.  If  it  is  possible  to  get  from  one  to  four 
cigars  by  using  this  plate,  then  the  element  of  chance  is  there 
and  it  makes  the  machine  nothing  but  a gambling  device. 


TEIE  LITTLE  BROWNIE. 


This  machine  is  made  for 
nickels  to  be  played  on,  and  pays 
out  cash  prizes  from  10  cents  to 
$1.  The  colors  automatically  reg- 
ister, and  remain  in  view  above 
dial  until  next  play.  A slug 
detector  is  provided,  which  shows 
the  last  three  nickels  played  on 
each  color. 

A favorite  method  of  beat- 
ing slot  machines  has  been  to  play 
slugs,  the  size  and  thickness  of 
nickels.  This  has  now  been  par- 
tially stopped  by  means  of  the 
slug  detector.  It  is  said  to  be  a 
crime  to  use  slugs,  but  not  a 
crime  to  run  the  machine.  The  reader  can  draw  his  own  con- 
clusions. 


204 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


1 Most  Marvelous  £ 

THE  LIBERTY  BELL. 


“The  most  marvelous  card  machine  ever  manufactured. 
Four  machines  in  one. 

“ Eirst,  can  be  operated  with  a five  cent  coin  or  check,  and 
will  pay  rewards  auto- 
matically in  five-cent 
checks. 

“ Second,  can  be 
operated  with  five-cent 
coins  exclusively,  and 
will  pay  rewards  auto- 
matically in  five-cent 
coins  exclusively. 

“ Third,  can  be  op- 
erated with  five-cent 
checks  exclusively,  and 
will  pay  its  rewards 
automatically  in  five- 
cent  checks  exclusively. 

“ Fourth,  can  be 
operated  as  a plain 
trade  card  machine  by 
simply  closing  up  the 
pay-out  tube. 

“ Can  be  adjusted 
to  meet  all  require- 
ments in  your  town. 

You  can  change  it  at 
will  from  one  style  of 
machine  to  another.  In 
the  twinkling  of  an  e3"e  it  becomes  a trade  stimulator,  a monej' 
machine  or  a check  machine.” 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


205 


pr»- 


4 4 


MBS 


or_ 

9L 

,2L. 

or 


Wins  SI.00  In  Trade 

Wins  80  c InTrade 


am  4^  Wins  BOc  InTrade 
^ yyins  40c  InTrade 
Wins  20  c InTrade 


Wins  10  c InTrade 


N B.  — Reward*  are  only  paid  when  spot*  or  aignaU  are  ihown  oo  Reel*  in  exact 
position  as  printed  on  reward  cards.  Reverse  poiilions  of  same  do  no!  pay  anything 

Liberty  Bell  Reward  Card. 


THE  TOTEM  GUM  VENDER. 

The  Totem  like  the  O.  K.  is  a dividend-paying  gum  vender. 
The  fortune  feature  is  also  retained.  But  for  those  who  object 
to  reels,  on  the  Totem  a dial  with  three  revolving  arrows  is  sub- 
stituted. This  dial  is  divided  into 
sixteen  wide  spaces.  It  is  attrac- 
tively painted  in  four  bright  colors 
and  enclosed  by  glass.  As  these 
arrows  rotate  they  indicate  the 
customer’s  fortune,  the  clue  to  the 
combination  of  mysterious  symbols 
being  given  on  the  card  at  top  of 
the  machine. 

This  machine  possesses  the 
same  window  feature  as  the  O.  K., 
which  announces  beforehand,  ex- 
actly what  the  player  is  going  to 
receive.  When  a dividend  falls  due 
the  fact  is  further  emphasized  by 
the  ringing  of  an  automatic  bell. 
Now  comes  the  trick.  “ The  dividends  are  given  voluntarily 
by  the  dealer  out  of  his  ozun  profits,  to  secure  the  steady  trade 
of  his  customers.  Notice  is  given  when  such  a dividend  is  to  be 
paid  and  the  patron  is  free  to  accept  or  decline.”  In  other  words, 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


‘20G 


the  machine  itself  indicates  when  a dividend  is  to  be  paid,  but 
the  patron  reserves  to  himself  the  right  as  to  whether  he  shall 
play  another  nickel  to  obtain  it  or  not.  Are  the  patrons  more 
generous  than  the  dealers?  It  creates  a peculiar  situation,  and 
is  nothing  more  nor  less  than  “ whipping  the  devil  round  the 
stump.” 


THE  NEW  AUTOMATIC  GUM  VENDER. 

This  machine  has  been  put  on  the  market  with  a view  of 
overcoming  legal  objection,  and  for  that  purpose  an  arrangement 
for  vending  gum  was  made.  In  some  localities  gum  is  vended 
when  nickels  are  played,  although  it  is  possible  to  get  rewards 
in  value  from  ten  cents  to  one  dollar.  While  some  of  the  ma- 
chines profess  to  give  gum,  there  is  no  such  arrangement  on 
them,  and  the  player  does  not  get  the  gum  unless  he  asks  for  it 
at  the  counter.  This  new  device  has  an  arrangement  whereby 
gum  is  delivered  on  each  play  when  nickels  are  used,  but  it  also 
has  another  arrangement  whereby  the  gum  is  returned  auto- 
matically back  to  the  machine  if  the  player  does  not  take  it  out. 
This  is  conclusive  that  it  is  not  expected  that  players  really 
want  the  gum,  and  in  practice  it  proves  they  do  not.  The  gum 
can  be  purchased  at  sixty  cents  per  hundred  packets,  thus  giv- 
ing the  operator  $4.40  profit  on  the  gum,  providing  it  is  all  taken 
out  of  the  machine  each  time  the  machine  is  played.  The  better 
argument  against  these  machines  is  to  be  found  in  the  litera- 
ture sent  out  by  the  slot  machine  company,  of  which  some  ex- 
tracts will  be  given. 

'■  The  new  automatic  gum  vender  is  sold  and  usually  oper- 
ated as  a plain  five-cent  gum  vender  automatically  delivering 
a package  of  gum  on  every  nickel.  Some  idea  of  its  possibilities 
is  obtainable  when  you  learn  that  it  can  be  operated  in  more 
than  20  different  zvays.  For  instance  in  opening  up  a location 
it  is  often  advisable  to  run  it  as  a straight  gum  machine.  Under 
no  circumstances  can  this  be  objected  to  and  the  resulting  prof- 
its are  large  enough  to  satisfy  most  men.  Later  on.  if  business 
must  be  stimulated  a little,  by  making  a few  very  slight  changes 
in  the  machine,  the  co-operative  trade  check  pay-out  features 
can  be  added,  or,  if  this  is  prohibited  the  pay-out  tube  can  again 
be  plugged  and  small  reward  or  premium  cards,  each  good  for 
a certain  amount  in  trade  (percentage  regulated  to  suit  your- 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


207 


: self)  can  be  enclosed  in  a few  of  the  gum  packages,  answer- 
ing the  purpose  admirably. 

; “ The  many  other  ways  in  which  this  machine  can  legiti- 

mately, yet  profitably  be  operated  will  be  explained  in  detail  on 
I request.  The  main  point,  however,  that  makes  it  so  valuable  to 
I operators  is,  that  regardless  of  conditions,  it  can  positively 
always,  as  a plain  gum  vendor,  be  operated,  with  the  full  con- 
i sent  of  the  authorities,  on  a good  paying  basis,  anywhere.” 

It  will  be  noticed  in  the  foregoing  that  they  are  very  cau- 
tious in  presenting  the  qualifications  of  this  particular  machine, 
for  while  they  make  it  possible  to  operate  these  machines  in 
several  ways  they  put  it  out  as  a simple  gum  vender.  Then 
they  say  that  the  authorities  cannot  object  to  that.  Of  course 
not ; if  the  machine  vends  gum  only,  when  operated,  and  no 
possible  chance  of  any  rewards  being  given,  then  the  greatest 
moralist  on  earth  would  not  object.  The  next  paragraph  will 
make  their  position  quite  clear. 

” Our  New  Gum  Vender  is  constructed  as  a legitimate 

machine  and  is  so  made  as  to  fit  the  present  day  requirements 
of  operators  throughout  the  country.  We  have  attempted  to, 
and  we  believe  that  we  have  built  a machine  that  complies  with 
the  laws  of  the  different  states  in  this  country  as  well  as  the 
laws  of  foreign  countries.  Our  attorneys,  who  are  in  our  opinion, 
the  best  constitutional  lawyers  in  the  country,  have  advised  us 
that  our  machines  are  legitimate  machines  and  no  valid  law  can 
be  passed  which  prohibits  their  operation.  Should,  therefore, 
there  be  any  statute  or  ordinance  in  your  vicinity  which  pro- 
hibits their  use,  we  will  cheerfully  place  our  attorneys  at  your 
disposal,  free  of  cost  to  yourself,  to  test  the  constitutionality  of 
said  law.” 

Talk  is  cheap.  The  company  knows  full  well  that  the  ser- 
vices of  their  attorneys  would  never  be  needed  to  protect  the 
operator  in  exhibiting  a simple  gum  vending  machine.  Let  us 
see  what  else  they  have  to  say. 

“ We  have  been  informed  that  in  some  localities  operators 
have  used  these  machines  by  giving  coins,  checks  or  premiums 
in  addition  to  the  regular  merchandise  Amended.”  (The  regular 
merchandise  being  gum.)  “ While  these  machines  ha\'e  been 
so  operated  in  many  cities  in  the  L^nited  States,  we  of  course  are 
not  obligated  to  guarantee  their  operation  when  used  in  this 
manner.”  (Understand  clearly,  the  machine  is  so  made  that  it 


208 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


can  be  operated  in  the  foregoing  manner.)  “ We  suggest  that 
if  you  desire  to  use  same  in  this  manner,  that  you  consult  some 
good  attorney,  or  frankly  state  the  proposition  to  your  authori- 
ties.” 

“ By  simply  readjusting  a few  screws,  this  machine  in  five 
minutes’  time,  can,  if  desirable,  readily  be  converted  into  a profit- 
sharing,  trade  stimulator  with  trade  check  pay-out  and  play 
back.  When  this  feature  is  prohibited,  the  new  automatic  can 
always  and  continuously  be  operated  at  a profit  as  a plain  gum 
vender. 

“ When  adjusted  with  trade  stimulating  feature,  the  New 
Automatic  like  the  Bell  can  be  played  either  with  nickels  or 
checks.  The  coins  going  straight  to  money  box,  the  checks  to 
pay-out  tube,  the  overflow  of  checks  by  a special  device,  going 
to  a separate  compartment  of  the  money  drawer.  Note,  however, 
that  the  machine  vends  gnin  only  when  nickels  are  played.” 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  statement  that  although  pro- 
vision is  made  in  the  machine  for  trade  checks  to  be  used  (each 
trade  check  representing  flve  cents  in  value),  yet  no  gum  will 
be  delivered  when  checks  are  played. 

As  a special  inducement  to  prospective  purchasers,  they  are 
urged  to  omit  nothing  in  reading  the  circular,  and  if  every  de- 
tail is  not  clear  to  read  the  description  again.  “ Read  betzoeen  the 
lines.” 

NEW  GUM  VENDER  WITH  THE  PREMIUM  FORTUNE 
TELLING  FEATURE. 

” The  grocery  man's  plan  of  giving  away  premiums  can  be 
used  most  advantageously  to  boost  the  sale  of  gum. 

“ In  adopting  this  plan  the  dealer  will  first  decide  what  pro- 
portion of  his  profits  he  can  afford  to  set  aside  for  the  purpose. 

” Then,  to  add  the  premium  feature  to  the  new  gum  vender, 
it  is  only  necessary  for  the  proprietor  to  insert  in  gum  packages, 
some  of  the  premium  fortune  cards.  These  premium  cards  will 
usually  be  of  a diff'erent  color  from  the  plain  fortune  cards  so 
that  the  attendant  may  know  instantly  when  a premium  is  won. 

“ In  this  connection  it  should  be  noted  that  these  premium 
cards  read  that  player  ‘ should  ’ receive  certain  articles,  not  that 
he  ‘ will.’  The  proprietor,  after  player  has  read  aloud  his  card.  | 
has  therefore  the  option  of  literally  making  his  fortune  ' come  j 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


209 


O.  K.  GUM  VENDER. 

A new  feature  in  connec- 
tion with  this  machine  is  that  it 
tells  what  the  player  will  re- 
ceive on  the  next  play,  before 
he  deposits  the  coin.  “ The 
dropping  of  the  coin  and  re- 
ceipt of  gum  constitutes  the 
entire  transaction.”  Now  then  ; 
supposing  ten  trade  checks  are 
thrown  out  after  the  coin  has 
been  dropped,  the  handle 
pulled,  and  the  wheels  revolved, 
what  does  that  constitute  ? Re- 
ceiving the  gum  in  return  for 


true  ’ by  presenting  his  patron  with  the  merchandise  indicated, 
or  may  ‘ pass  it  up  ’ if  he  so  desires.  As  liberality  is  usually 
rewarded  by  increased  trade,  and  also  that  the  merchandise  thus 
given  is  splendid  advertising  both  for  your  store  and  the  ma- 
chine, the  majority  of  dealers  will  probably  find  it  to  their  in- 
terest to  give  away  the  premiums. 

“ These  premiums  may  consist  of  merchandise  specially  pur- 
chased or  the  wares  ordinarily  sold  over  the  counter,  or  BOTH. 
And  the  value  of  the  premiums  may  either  be  uniform  or  range 
in  cost  from  5c  to  $1  each.” 

The  following  wordings 
appear  on  some  of  the  premium 
cards  used  in  this  machine : 

“ Fortune  favors  you.  You 
should  to-day  receive  two  good 
smokes.”  “ Friends  will  help 
you.  One  should  soon  treat 
you  to  a good  meal.”  “ Your 
lucky  star  is  in  the  ascendant. 

Someone  should  to-day  present 
you  with  a handsome  watch.” 

While  this  seeks  to  evade  the 
letter  of  the  law,  in  my  opinion, 
it  does  not  evade  the  spirit  of  it. 


the  nickel  constitutes  the  legal 


210 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


transaction,  that  is,  from  the  manufacturers’  standpoint;  and 
again,  if  checks  are  returned  as  rewards  for  the  nickel  played, 
then  from  their  standpoint,  it  is  an  illegal  transaction,  because, 
to  use  their  own  language,  “ We  emphasize  the  fact  that  the 
machine  is  shipped  only  as  a plain  GU^I  VENDER,”  and  “ It 
is  not  a gaming  device  any  more  than  a pool  table  is  a gambling 
device  UNLESS  it  is  used  as  such.”  Therefore  it  must  be  classed 
as  a gambling  device,  for  though  it  does  indicate  what  the 
player  shall  receive  on  the  next  play,  the  element  of  chance  is 
not  entirely  eliminated.  The  manufacturers  know  this,  and  that 
is  why  they  will  not  undertake  the  responsibility  of  ” guarantee- 
ing the  machine  ” when  it  is  used  other  than  as  a plain  gum 
vender  only. 

In  July,  1912,  Forest  Whitmer  of  the  Derby  saloon.  Canton, 
Ohio,  was  charged  in  the  local  police  court  with  operating 
a slot  machine  as  a gambling  device,  contrary  to  the  laws 
of  the  State  of  Ohio.  The  O.  K.  Gum  A’ender  was  the  machine 
in  question.  The  assistant  city  solicitor,  acting  police  prose- 
cutor. prosecuted  the  case  before  Police  Judge  Quinn  (my  name- 
sake, but  no  relation  to  me). 

Attorneys  for  the  Southern  Gum  and  Tol^acco  Company,  of 
.\kron,  Oliio,  and  a local  attorney,  defended  the  case.  Briefs 
were  prepared  on  both  sides,  that  of  the  State  being  as  follows : 

IN  THE  CROIINAL  COURT  OF  THE  CITY  OF 
CANTON,  OHIO. 

State  of  Ohio,  ( . 

St.vrk  County,  f " 

The  State  of  Ohio, 

Plaintiff, 
vs. 

Forest  Whitmer, 

Defendant 

I.  Object  of  Gambling  St.ttutes. 

Section  13066  was  enacted  by  the  State  Legislature,  under  the 
police  powers  of  the  State.  At  Common  Law,  gaming  was  not  held 
unlawful.  States  for  the  purpose  of  eliminating  and  retarding  the 
growth  of  the  gambling  spirit  among  its  citizens,  enacted  laws  pro- 
hibiting the  exhibition  and  use  of  gambling  devices.  This  object,  i 
we  submit,  should  be  kept  constantly  in  mind  by  the  court  in  con-  j 
struing  statutes  prohibiting  the  exhibition  of  gambling  devices. 


1 

f State  s Brief. 

J 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


11.  The  Ohio  Statute. 

This  prosecution  is  brought  under  Section  13066  G.  C.  De- 
fendant admits  that  the  machine  in  question  was  exhibited  and 
operated  in  defendant's  place  of  business  in  Canton,  Ohio,  with  the 
defendant’s  knowledge.  The  one  question,  therefore,  that  arises  in 
this  case  is  the  following : Is  the  machine  marked  “ Exhibit  A,”  a 
gambling  device?  The  Supreme  Court,  Appellate  Division,  4th  De- 
partment, 99  N.  Y.  Supplement,  page  1097,  in  commenting  on  what 
constitutes  a gambling  device,  says : “ There  was  no  rebate  or  re- 

duction, but  obviously  the  scheme  was  to  entice  trade  by  stimulating 
the  gambling  spirit.  The  player  had  no  knowledge  of  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  mental  discs  and  played  in  the  hope  of  securing  one  or 
more  of  these,  calling  for  a larger  sum,  and  knew  that  no  loss  could 
accrue  to  him  in  any  event.  The  proprietor  expected  to  make  up 
for  the  few  checks  in  excess  of  the  actual  value  of  the  nickel  in  the 
increased  trade,  and  a consequent  profit  inuring  to  him.”  Later  in 
the  same  case  the  court  says:  “The  chief  element  of  gambling  is 
the  chance  or  uncertainty  of  the  hazard.  The  chance  may  be  in 
winning  at  all,  or  in  the  amount  to  be  won  or  lost.  In  using  the 
j^resent  machine,  we  may  assume  that  the  player  cannot  lose.  By 
far  the  greater  majority  of  the  checks  called  in  trade  for  the  precise 
sum  deposited  in  the  slot.  If  every  ticket  represented  five  cents, 
the  machine  would  not  be  patronized.  The  bait  or  inducement  is  that 
the  player  may  get  one  of  tire  checks  for  a sum  in  excess  of  the  nickel 
he  ventures,  and  that  is  the  vice  of  the  scheme.  If  he  wins  more  than 
he  pays,  the  proprietor  must  lose  on  that  discharge  of  the  ticket.  To 
constitute  gambling,  it  is  not  important  who  may  be  the  loser.”  Later 
in  the  opinion  the  following  appears : “ The  inventor  of  the 

present  machine  has  attempted  to  obviate  the  criticism  to  which  other 
slot  machines  have  been  subjected,  by  cunningly  returning  to  the 
player  operating  the  machine  a check  or  ticket  which  secures  to  him 
in  cigars  or  liquor  the  amount  of  his  stake.  Like  most  inventors, 
to  adhere  to  the  letter  of  the  laze,  zohile  violating  its  spirit,  he  cannot 
succeed.  The  present  device  attractively  ministers  to  the  gambling 
humor,  the  same  as  other  slot  machines  of  substantially  similar 
design.  Unless  it  did  this,  it  would  not  entice  the  customer.  . . . 
It  is  the  hazard,  the  chance  of  winning  more  than  the  sum  returned 
which  draws  people  to  the  machine,  and  that  element  was  the  con- 
spicuous one  retained  in  its  mechanism,  and  it  is  that  which  brings 
it  within  the  condemnation  of  the  statute  forbidding  gambling  in 
a place  where  liquor  is  sold.” 

The  defendant  contends  that  since  the  dial  on  tlie  machine 
marked  “ Exhibit  A,”  at  the  close  of  one  operation  of  the  machine 
indicates  just  what  the  machine  will  eject  at  the  next  operation, 
that  the  machine  in  question,  therefore  is  not  a gambling  device. 
We  submit  that  this  effects,  if  anything,  not  the  substance,  but  the 
form;  and  that  this  invention  is,  as  was  said,  by  the  New  York 
Court,  but  an  effort  on  the  part  of  the  inz'cntor  through  a subterfuge 
to  conform  to  the  letter  of  the  statute  zvhile  znolating  the  spirit,  and 


212 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


hence  cannot  succeed.  Wherein  we  inquire,  does  the  machine 
marked  “ Exhibit  A,”  cultivate  and  develop,  any  less,  the  gambling 
spirit — and,  that  we  think,  must  be  admitted  to  be  the  aim  and  pur- 
pose of  our  statute — than  did  the  original  slot-machine? 

The  exhibitor  of  the  machine  marked  ‘‘  Exhibit  A,"  in  effect 
says  to  the  player,  “ If  you  place  in  the  aperture  of  the  machine  a 
nickel,  when  the  dial  shows  the  word  ‘ Gum,’  you  will  receive  a 
package  of  gum,  and  also  being  in  possession  of  the  machine,  a 
chance  to  receive  as  high  as  twenty  five-cent  trade  checks  b}-  placing 
in  the  machine  another  nickel.”  This  is  where  the  gambling  feature 
enters  into  the  transaction.  The  new  machine  marked  “ Exhibit  A." 
is  identical  with  the  old  machine  with  the  exception  that  the  plaver 
plays  one  operation  in  advance  of  that  played  by  him  with  the  okl 
machine.  We  do  not  believe  that  the  court  in  consideration  of  all 
these  things,  especially  in  the  light  of  the  character  of  the  package  of 
gum  ejected  by  the  machine,  and  which  is  before  your  Honor  in 
evidence,  can  hold  that  the  machine  marked  “ Exhibit  A,”  does 
successfully  e7'ade  either  the  spirit  or  the  letter  of  the  Ohio  Statute 
prohibiting  the  exhibitioti  of  gambling  devices. 

III.  CITATIONS. 

Heman  vs.  Ohio,  9 O.  S.  274. 

99  Maine  486. 

99  N.  Y.  Supplement,  page  1097. 

20  L.  R.  A.  (N.  S.)  239. 

24.  Century  Digest,  paragraph  198. 

Respectfullv  submitted. 

FRANK  N.  SWEITZER. 

Ass’t  City  Solicitor. 


After  due  consideration  Judge  Quinn  ruled  as  follows: 

“ The  question  before  the  court  is  whether  or  not  the  O.  K. 
vender  is  a gambling  device,”  said  Judge  Quinn.  ” It  is  not 
necessary  for  the  state  to  introduce  evidence  to  show  that  the 
persons  who  might  have  operated  this  machine  had  in  mind  the 
intention  of  playing  for  chances  to  be  submitted  in  the  future. 
The  defendant  is  not  being  charged  with  having  engaged  in  gam- 
bling on  a particular  day,  but  he  is  charged  with  having  ex- 
hibited for  the  purpose  of  gaining  money  and  other  property  of 
value,  a gambling  device. 

“ V’hen  the  metallic  trade  checks  are  played  in  the  machine 
without  the  machine  ejecting  any  gum,  then  certainl}'  no  one 
would  contend  that  the  player  is  doing  anything  but  playing  for 
a future  chance  to  get  more  than  the  value  of  the  trade  check  for 
either  another  trade  check  or  five  cents.  This  is  evident,  be-  | 
cause  the  machine  will  not  pay  for  trade  checks  anything  but 
trade  checks,  and  it  is  only  when  the  machine  pays  trade  checks 
that  anvthing  in  addition  to  the  package  of  gum  is  ejected. 

“ There  can  be  no  doubt  that  trade  checks  being  good  for  five 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


•313 


cents  in  trade  are  things  of  value  and  property  which  would  come 
under  the  definition  of  ‘ other  property.’  If  the  machine  in  the 
case  at  bar  were  a legitimate  gum  vender,  it  seems  strange  to 
the  court  that  unless  the  purchaser  immediately  takes  his  gum 
from  the  shelf  upon  which  it  is  ejected,  he  will  lose  the  chance  to 
get  even  the  pack  of  gum  for  a nickel  unless  he  goes  to  the  pro- 
prietor and  induces  him  to  give  him  a pack  of  gum. 

According  to  the  defense  the  purpose  of  the  machine  is  to 
act  as  a gum  vender,  and  certainly  it  would  not  be  a useful  gum 
vender  if  the  purchaser  of  gum  had  to  go  back  to  the  counter 
in  the  end  to  get  his  five-cent  purchase.  The  very  fact  that  this 
machine  is  so  constructed  that  it  will  take  back  the  package  of 
gum  it  ejects,  unless  the  purchaser  takes  his  gum  before  playing 
aeain,  makes  it  evident  that  the  machine  is  founded  upon  a 
scheme  of  trickery  and  is  a confession  that  it  is  not  a mechanism 
for  the  purpose  of  vending  gum.” 

The  court  stated  that  the  packages  of  gum  appeared  to  be 
>-ery  inferior  to  the  ordinary  five-cent  package  of  gum  in  size  as 
well  as  quality. 

“ The  court  considers  the  size  of  the  package  of  gum  only 
in-so-far  as  it  throws  light  upon  the  probability  that  purchasers 
would  be  apt  to  plaj-  the  machine  for  the  sake  of  the  chewing 
gum,  without  the  added  inducement  that  the  machine  holds  out 
something  in  addition  to  the  gum  at  some  future  play,”  said  the 
jiMge. 

The  judge  said  that  he  also  found  that  if  the  player  did  not 
immediately  take  the  gum  when  it  was  ejected  it  would  be  swept 
back  into  the  machine.  He  concluded  with  the  statement  that 
the  machine  was  a “ further  improvement  of  the  slot  machine 
which  gave  five  cents  in  trade  with  a chance  not  indicated  before- 
hand of  getting  something  in  addition  on  each  play.  The  present 
machine  is  more  cunningly  contrived,  but  depends  upon  the  same 
gambling  spirit  for  its  business. 

“ Therefore,  the  court  is  strongly  of  the  opinion  that  the  de- 
fendant is  guilty  as  charged  in  the  affidavit  of  violating  the  laws 
of  the  State  of  Ohio.” 


THE  NATIONAL. 

This  machine  differs  in  all  others  in  that  while  it  shows 
what  the  player  will  get  on  the  next  play,  it  does  not  deliver  gum 
like  the  automatic  gum  venders.  IMany  times  the  player  gets 
nothing  whatever  in  return  for  the  money  played  in.  If  the 
player  got  an  equivalent  on  each  play,  then  it  would  be  im- 
possible for  the  machine  to  give  more  than  an  equivalent  on  any 
play. 


214 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


The  following  description  is  sent  out : “ The  greatest  card 
machine  ever  built  because  it  is  not  a game  of  chance.  Because 
it  shows  what  you  will  receive  before  you  play.  Because  it 
throws  out  a ticket  numbered  consecutively  with  the  amount 
printed  on,  automatically  prints  a fac  simile  of  hand  shown,  tells 
your  fortune,  shows  last  coin  played  in  and  the  case  is  con- 
structed on  the  order  of  a cash  register.” 


This  machine  is  said  to  be  able  to  run  in  any  town  where 
“ the  lid  is  on,  ” even  in  ” Old  Puritanical  New  England.”  It 
seems  to  me  that  it  would  be  better  if  the  laws  all  over  the 
country  were  a little  more  Puritanical.  It  is  the  duty  of  every 
state  to  safeguard  the  moral  interest  of  the  community.  If  a 
certain  thing,  is  right,  then  let  it  continue ; but  if  it  is  wrong, 
then  I say  the  best  thing  to  do  is  to  crush  it  out.  even  if  sledge 
liammers  have  to  be  used.  I believe  Ave  should  obey  the  Scrip- 
tural injunction  : “ Fight  the  devil  and  he  Avill  flee  from  you.’’ 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


315 


BEN  FRANKLIN. 


This  machine  is  one  of  the 
earlier  makes  of  gum  vending 
machines,  and  is  made  to  be 
played  by  dropping  a penny  in 
the  slot  and  pressing  the  lever, 
when  the  reels  are  made  to  re- 
volve. 

It  delivers  a piece  of  gum 
on  each  coin  played,  and  if  any 
of  the  combinations,  mentioned 
on  the  reward  card  at  the  head 
of  the  machine,  appear,  then 
the  player  will  receive  the  re- 
ward. 

To  name  this  machine  after 
Benjamin  Franklin  is  an  insult 
to  his  memory.  Franklin  was 
ever  on  the  side  of  honesty  and 
truth.  The  following  is  a part 
of  his  prayers  : “ That  I may  be  averse  to  craft  and  overreaching, 
abhor  extortion,  and  ever}^  kind  of  weakness  and  wickedness.  That 
I may  have  constant  regard  to  honor  and  probity  ; that  I may  possess 
an  innocent  and  good  conscience,  and  at  length  become  truly 
virtuous,  magnanimous  and  helpful  to  my  fellow  men — Help  me, 
O God ! ” 

Can  the  manufacturers,  agents,  etc.,  who  handle  these  ma- 
chines pray  in  a like  manner,  and  with  as  much  sincerity? 


THE  DEWEY. 

This  machine  has  six  slots,  and  is  made  for  either  nickels 
or  quarters,  with  or  without  musical  attachment.  The  cut  here 
shows  the  musical  attachment  added. 

There  are  one  hundred  spaces  on  an  eighteen-inch  dial. 

Nickel  machine  pays  rewards  from  10c  to  $3. 

Quarter  machines  pay  bigger  amounts  and  make  bigger 
profits  for  the  house. 

It  has  a non-repeating  device  which  prevents  two  successive 
wins  on  same  color. 


216 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


Color  flags  automatically  regulated,  machine  cannot  pay  on 
wrong  color. 

On  some  of  the  Dewey  ma- 
chines the  Jack  Pot  feature  is 
added,  and  is  always  in  full  sight 
of  the  player.  It  pays  out  on  the 
blue.  This  is  a great  inducement 
to  the  players  to  continue  the 
play  in  order  to  get  the  Jack  Pot. 

The  Jack  Pot  constantly  ac- 
cumulates, until  it  looks  to  the 
player  like  a whole  handful  of 
nickels. 

The  Jack  Pot  takes  the  place 
of  the  $2  reward  on  the  regular 
Dewey. 


LITTLE  BIG  SIX 

This  machine  is  provided 
with  six  slots,  and  pays  five  for 
one  on  any  color. 

Straight  percentage  play.  Al- 
ways one  sure  win  out  of  six 
plays. 

Can’t  repeat  on  any  color. 
Dial  revolves  at  a different  speed 
each  play. 

Six  different  National  flags 
arranged  in  thirty-six  spaces  on 
dial.  Corresponding  flags  under 
slots. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


217 


Slug  detector  shows  last  three  coins  played  on  each  color. 
Flag  color  plate  shows  last  play. 

Clogging  prevented  by  device  which  automatically  vibrates 
tubes  each  play. 

Pay-out  is  guaranteed  accurate. 


20th  CENTURY. 


Two  different  machines  of  this  design  are  made,  viz.,  eight 
slots  for  nickels,  quarters  and 
trade  checks ; five  slots  for  half 
dollars  or  dollars.  It  will  thus  be 
seen  that  both  the  “ pikers  ” and 
“ high  rollers  ” can  be  accommo- 
dated with  a machine  to  suit  their 
pocket  books.  In  either  case 
there  is  an  excellent  chance  of  the 
contents  being  reduced. 

The  machines  pay  as  follows  : 

On  5c  play,  10c  to  $5 ; on  25c 
play,  50c  to  $25 ; on  50c  play,  $1 
to  $10 ; on  $1  play,  $2  to  $20. 

“ Heavy  play  means  heavy 
profits.” 

The  new  dial  has  130  spaces, 
half  of  them  inverted,  allowing 
all  colors  to  show  large. 

Disputes  avoided  by  device 
making  it  impossible  to  play  two 
nickels  in  same  slot  at  same  time. 

Handle  is  locked  until  all  coins 
are  played  in. 


THE  OWL. 

This  machine  is  similar  in  construction  to  the  Dewey  and 
other  kindred  makes,  is  provided  with  five  slots  for  nickels, 
quarters  or  trade  checks.  The  rewards  paid  are  as  follows : 


218 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


Automatic  bell  announces  amount  won ; rings  once  when  ma- 
chine pays  10c  on  red  or  black;  rings  twice  for  25c  on  yellow; 
three  times  for  50c  on  white ; four  times  for  $1  on  green. 

The  man  is  “ green  ” who  will  go  up  against  these  machines 
after  reading  these  pages.  The  machines  are  there  to  get  his 
money,  and  they  will  get  it. 


THE  UMPIRE. 

This  device  is  similar  in  construction  to  the  “Check  Boy,’’ 
and  is  one  of  the  latest  placed  on  the  market.  It  is  a five-slot 
baseball  machine  for  penny  or  nickel  play.  Any  number  of 
players  therefore,  from  one  to  five,  may  play  simultaneously,  or 
one  man  may  play  all  the  five 
colors  himself.  But  one  color, 
hozvever,  can  win  on  each  play. 

'x'he  rewards  are  paid  out 
automatically  in  single  trade 
checks.  The  pay-out  tube  is 
at  the  bottom  end  on  the  right 
hand  side  of  the  machine. 

Adjusted  for  penny  play, 
the  Umpire  automatically  pays 
out  rewards  of  respectively 
five,  ten,  twenty  and  thirty 
cents  in  single  checks,  redeem- 
able only  in  trade. 

The  revolving  reel  is  sub- 
divided in  fifty  spaces,  twenty- 
five  reward-paying  colors,  and 
twenty-five  non-paying  blacks. 

The  layout  of  the  penny  machine  consists  of  nine  reds  or  singles, 
paying  five  cents  in  trade ; nine  greens  or  doubles  paying  five 
cents  in  trade  ; five  browns  or  triples  paying  ten  cents  in  trade ; 
two  blues  or  home  runs  paying  twenty  cents  in  trade  ; one  Um- 
pire or  “ game  won  ” paying  thirty  cents.  Rewards  are  paid 
only  on  the  above  colors. 

This  machine  is  considered  to  be  a gold  mine  to  the  man 
who  operates  it. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


219 


REWARD  PAYING  PUNCHING  BAG. 

“ This  machine  is  made  to  operate  with  either  nickels  or  pen- 
nies and  when  a coin  is  dropped  in  the  slot,  the  action  releases 
the  bag,  so  that  it  may  be  pulled  down  in  position  (see  cut)  to 
receive  the  blow.  When  struck,  the  bag  hits  the  hinged  under- 
side of  the  upper  projecting  portion  of  the  machine,  causing  the 
same  to  raise,  which  action  registers  the  weight  of  the  blow  on 
the  dial  in  pounds.  Upon  reacting,  the  bag  automatically  re- 
turns to  its  first  position  and  is  im- 
mediately locked  there,  ready  for  the 
next  play.  The  player  gets  one  punch 
for  each  coin  played  in. 

“ Magazine  holds  200  brass  checks. 
One  of  these  is  paid  out  when  player 
strikes  bag  just  hard  enough  to  drive 
pointer  around  to  one  of  the  winning 
points  on  the  dial  as  shown  by  reward 
card. 

“ If  operated  with  pennies,  the 
value  of  each  check  is  5c  in  trade  ; if 
with  nickels,  each  check  is  worth  25c 
in  trade. 

“ An  extra  prize  to  boost  the  game 
may  be  arranged  by  putting  one  or 
two  25c  checks  in  pay-out  tube  if  ma- 
chine is  operated  with  pennies ; if 
operated  with  nickels  the  extra  prize 
should  be  worth  a dollar  in  trade.” 

It  is  claimed  for  this  machine  that 
it  cannot  be  classed  as  gambling,  as 
the  winning  of  the  rewards  depends 
upon  the  skill  of  the  player.  This  is 
not  true.  The  following  will  explain : 
“ Machines  leave  factory  arranged  to 
pay  on  even  hundreds  from  200  to 
1,100 ; but  can  be  made  to  pay  on  units  of  tens  from  10  to  1,100 
if  desired;  or  the  machine  may  be  regulated  to  pay  only  one 
good  prize  on  one  number.”  This  clearly  shows  that  the  player 
lias  very  little  chance  of  securing  a reward  or  prize,  and  that 
skill  has  nothing  at  all  to  do  with  it. 


220 


GAA/EBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


THE  SILVER  CUP. 

This  is  a double-dial  automatic  machine.  Is  a combination 
trade  check  or  money  machine.  In  some  localities  where  “ every- 
thing goes  ” this  machine  is  operated  on  the  money  basis,  that  is 
to  say,  it  pays  out  rewards  in  coin  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
large  floor  machines.  Other  localities,  while  permitting  their 
use,  insist  that  trade  checks  be  used  for  rewards.  They  contend 


that  it  only  constitutes  gambling  when  the  actual  cash  is  played 
for.  A little  common  sense  would  convince  them  there  is  no 
difference  in  principle  between  the  cash  and  the  trade  checks 
being  given  out  as  rew'ards.  The  only  dift’erence.  if  any.  lies  in 
the  extra  profit  that  accrues  to  the  owner  of  the  machine  when 
trade  checks  are  used,  as  he  is  able  to  make  a profit  on  his  goods 
igiven  out  in  trade. 

Should  there  be  any  move  on  the  part  of  the  authorities  at 


GA^IBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


221 


any  time  in  opposition  to  these  machines,  then  a simple  device 
is  constructed  in  the  form  of  a special  gum  sign  which  can  be 
attached  if  “ necessit}^  requires  it.”  That  means  that  it  becomes 
a gum  vender,  from  the  point  of  view  of  the  owner,  and  he  ex- 
pects thus  to  escape  the  officers  of  the  law. 

Erom  one  to  five  persons  may  play  the  machine  at  the  same 
time,  or  one  person  may  play  all  the  slots  at  the  same  time.  Re- 
wards vary  from  ten  cents  to  two  dollars. 


ROYAL  JUMBO:  OR,  KING  FRAUD. 


This  machine  is  made  for  either  pen- 
nies, nickels,  dimes  or  quarters.  Of 
course  the  rewards  vary  considerably  ac- 
cording to  what  the  machine  is  made  up 
for.  Large  numbers  of  these  machines 
are  in  use  all  over  the  country,  but  it  is 
quite  time  the  State  Legislatures  took 
action  to  put  them  out  of  business,  for 
they  obtain  money  under  false  pretense. 

Laws  are  in  vogue  that  fasten  them- 
selves on  the  man  who  deliberately  ob- 
tains money  under  false  representation 
from  another  man,  and  those  same  laws 
should  be  applicable  to  every  form  of 
misrepresentation  which  causes  a man 
to  be  fleeced  of  his  money.  Admitting 
that  it  is  unlawful  to  gamble,  that  is  no 
reason  why  machines  should  be  allowed 
to  operate  that  deliberately  induce  men 
to  put  up  their  money  with  a view  of 
trying  to  win  a big  prize  when  it  is  im- 
possible for  him  to  do  so. 

Three  illustrations  are  here  shown, 
representing  this  particular  machine. 

The  first  illustration  shows  the  machine 
as  it  looks  to  the  player.  The  second  one 
shows  the  wheels  which  revolve  inside 
when  the  coin  has  been  placed  in  the 
machine  and  the  lever  pressed.  The  third 
shows  the  cards  in  the  exact  order  as  they  appear  on  the  wheels. 


222 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


As  I write  this  I have  the  actual  machinery  in  front  of  me. 
This  machine  is  made  for  nickels,  and  the  rewards  on  the  card 
read  as  follows : 


DROP  NICKEL  IN  THE  SLOT. 

Rewards  in  5 cent  Cigars. 

Royal  Flush  (Ace,  King,  Queen,  Jack  and  Ten 

of  either  Suit) 

100 

Cigars 

Straight  Flush  (all  of  One  Suit  in  Rotation,  as 

3-4-5-6-7)  

50 

Four  of  a Kind 

30 

“ 

Full  Hand  (Three  of  One  Kind  and  Two  of 

Another)  

20 

** 

Flush  (All  of  One  Suit,  Regardless  of  Rota- 

tion)  

10 

*• 

Straight  (All  in  Rotation,  Regardless  of  any 

Suit)  

S 

Three  of  a Kind 

5 

Two  Pair 

3 

i( 

One  Pair  (Tens  or  Better) 

1 

Cigar 

Now  in  looking  carefully  at  the  five  rows  of  cards  on  the 
opposite  page  the  reader  will  notice  that  it  is  impossible  to  get 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


223 


22i 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


a Royal  Elush  (100  cigars)  or  a Straight  Flush  in  rotation  (50 
cigars)  ; neither  is  it  possible  to  get  four  of  a kind  above  nine.  In 
any  case  it  is  very  seldom  that  four  of  a kind  ever  turn  up. 

This  makes  it  fraud  pure  and  simple  when  it  records  re- 
wards for  certain  hands  which  it  is  impossible  to  obtain.  The 
percentage  in  favor  of  the  owner  of  the  machine  is  so  strong 
that  he  will  not  readily  refrain  from  exhibiting  it,  and  it  will  take 
the  most  rigid  enforcement  of  the  law  to  stop  their  operation. 

The  large  prizes  are  offered  with  a view  of  inducing  players 
to  continue  playing  with  the  hope  of  securing  one  of  them. 
'Fhey  might  play  against  one  a thousand  years  and  never  suc- 
ceed. Of  course  the  players  have  no  knowledge  of  the  true 
nature  of  the  machine,  but  this  book  is  intended  to  open  the 
eyes  of  the  public  to  the  rascality  that  is  being  practiced. 

Again  I urge  that  every  society  promoted  for  the  uplift  of 
humanity  work  for  legislation  that  shall  be  sufficiently  strong 
as  to  not  only  prevent  the  operation  of  these  machines,  but  to 
make  it  a penitentiary  offence  to  manufacture  them. 


“ NO-GAMING”  SIGN. 


Another  scheme  with  which  to  defraud  the  authorities  has 
been  devised,  and  is  in  the  form  of  a sign  which  can  be  attached 
when  necessary.  The  following  is  the  language  used  by  the 
manufacturer : “ This  sign  is  made  entirely  of  metal  with  raised 
letters  and  is  handsomely  plated.  It  can  be  attached  or  detached 
in  a moment’s  time — it  is  simply  clamped  on  to  the  coin  de- 
tector. In  many  places  this  sign  TAKES  OFF  1\IL*CH  OF  THE 
‘ CLIRSE  ’ and  machines  are  allowed  to  be  operated  in  places 
where  without  it  operation  would  be  entirely  out  of  the  question. 
We  know  of  operators  who  have  submitted  this  sign  to  Chiefs 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


2-25 

j of  Police,  Mayors  and  Judges,  with  the  result  that  in  many  in- 
I stances  the  machines  were  allowed  to  run.” 

This  wording  appears  on  sign  : 


THIS  IS  NOT  A GAMING  DEVICE. 

Any  person  desiring  to  gamble  must  not  put  any 
money  in  this  machine.  As  a consideration  for  the  use 
of  this  music  machine  and  the  music  furnished,  it  is  ex- 
pressly agreed  that  all  of  the  nickels  which  come  out  of 
the  cup  below,  must  and  shall  be  played  back  into  the 
machine,  thereby  giving  more  music. 


It  is  obvious  from  the  above  that  whatever  the  sign  may 
say,  it  is  hardly  to  be  expected  that  a group  of  men  will  con- 
tinue to  play  a machine  by  putting  in  their  nickels  if  music  is 
the  only  thing  that  can  be  gotten  out  of  it.  “ Music  is  that 
elevated  science,  which  affects  the  passion  by  sound.  There  are 
but  few  who  have  not  felt  its  charms  and  acknowledged  its  ex- 
pression to  be  intelligible  to  the  heart.  It  is  a language  of  de- 
lightful sensation  far  more  intelligible  than  words  can  express.” 
No  doubt  the  addition  of  music  to  the  slot  machines  is  in- 
tended to  create  a passion  for  throwing  away  nickels  and  dimes, 
etc.,  by  dropping  them  into  the  machines,  but  it  is  very  seldom 
that  the  music  charms  them  back  again. 


THE  YANKEE. 

This  machine  is  one  of  the  greatest  schemes  of  chance  ever 
placed  on  the  market,  and  is  also  one  of  the  most  dangerous. 
Just  imagine  a young  boy  who  is  “ out  for  a good  time,”  jingling' 
the  little  pocket  money  in  his  hand  given  him  by  his  parents  be- 
fore he  started  out.  He  sees  one  of  these  machines  and  the  first 
thing  he  notices  is  the  amount  of  coin  shown  in  the  five  pockets 
of  the  machine.  Immediatel)^  it  calls  forth  a vision  of  immense 
possibility  in  his  mind  should  he  be  successful  in  obtaining  the 
amount  of  coin  that  is  contained  in  only  one  of  the  pockets  of 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


2^6 

the  machine.  He  makes  enquiries  as  to  how  it  works  and  is  ^ 
told  that  if  he  will  place  a nickel  in  the  slot  at  the  top,  pull  the 
lever  and  shoot  the  coin  across  into  the  prize  target  at  the  op- 
posite left  hand  side,  and  it  does  not  lodge  there,  it  may  fall  into 


one  of  the  five  pockets  located  at  the  bottom  of  the  pin  board. 
In  this  event  the  coin  will  lodge  at  top  of  pocket  and  will  re- 
main in  sight  until  the  handle  is  pressed,  when  the  winnings  will 
be  delivered  to  him. 

This  sounds  good  to  the  young  boy.  He  tries  this  machine 
to  see  what  it  will  do  for  him.  After  a few  nickels  have  been 
played  he  becomes  discouraged,  but  he  sees  some  one  else  come 
up  to  play  the  machine  and  soon  they  are  competing  with  each 
other  as  to  who  shall  first  secure  a prize.  Before  he  realizes 
just  what  this  may  mean  to  him  his  little  pocket  has  dwindled 
away  and  he  can  play  no  further.  V’hat  shall  he  do?  What 
shall  he  tell  his  parents  what  became  of  his  pocket  money? 
Finally  he  hits  upon  a plan,  and  resolves  to  tell  his  parents  that 
some  one  grabbed  his  pocket  book  and  he  could  not  run  fast 
enough  to  catch  him,  so  he  had  to  walk  all  the  way  home. 

The  owners  of  these  machines  can  regulate  the  percentage 
so  easily  that  the  “ rake-off  ” can  be  fixed  ten  to  seventy-five  per 
cent. 


GAME  CARDS. 


Legitimate  business  is  being  more  and  more  replaced  by 
what  is  known  as  “ trade  stimulator.”  The  slot  machines  have 
been  placed  in  this  category,  and  now  “ game  cards  ” and 
“ punch  boards  ” are  also  included.  The  excuse  given  is  that 
the  American  public  is  of  a speculative  turn  of  mind,  and  that 
they  would  rather  have  a little  fun  by  taking  a chance  on  some 
of  these  games  than  make  their  purchases  in  the  ordinary  way. 
Assuming  that  this  Avas  absolutely  true  (which  of  course  it  is 
not),  then  the  idea  of  the  brotherhood  of  man  being  recognized 
by  the  people  of  America,  is  out  of  the  question,  for  the  principle 
involved  is  such  that  instead  of  “ doing  unto  others  as  they 
should  be  done  by.”  they  are  trying  to  do  each  other.  The  man 
Avho  exhibits  the  “ game  card  ” with  the  expectation  that  men 
will  take  a chance  on  it,  is  inwardly  and  outwardly  desiring 
their  money,  in  return  for  which  he  hopes  to  give  little  or  noth- 
ing. Those  who  play  these  games  have  a similar  thought  in 
their  minds,  so  far  as  the  hope  of  gain  is  concerned,  but  when 
they  put  doAvn  a nickel  or  a dime  for  a chance  they  hope  they 
will  be  “ lucky  ” enough  to  secure  a large  prize  and  get  aAvay 
with  it.  They  also  are  inwardly  and  outwardly  desiring  to  get 
the  better  of  the  other  felloAV. 

So  far  as  these  games  are  concerned  there  is  not  an  atom  of 
skill  connected  Avith  them  in  any  Avay.  The  cards  are  made  in 
A'arious  Avays,  but  the  system  of  play  is  the  same.  The  one 
shoAvn  in  the  illustration  is  known  as  “ Everybody’s  Game,”  and 
contains  255  poker  hands.  FiA^e  cents  is  the  price  of  a chance. 
\Adien  the  seal  is  removed  a poker  hand  is  reA^ealed,  and  in  order 
to  get  something  back  in  return  for  the  fiA-e  cents  paid,  the  hand 
must  correspond  with  one  of  the  folloAving,  which  also  gives 
the  amount  won,  and  which  is  distributed  in  trade ; 

Fours  80  cents  in  trade. 

Full  House 60  cents  in  trade. 

Straight 40  cents  in  trade. 

Three  of  a kind  20  cents  in  trade. 

Two  Pair  10  cents  in  trade. 

Jacks  or  Better  5 cents  in  trade. 

Should  none  of  the  above  hands  be  drawn  the  player  gets 
nothing. 


227 


22S 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


EverTbodY’s  Game 


TRADE  CARD 


ALL  PRIZES  PAID  IN  TRADE 


Fours  - 
Full  House  « 
Straight 
Three  of  a Kind 
Two  Pair 
Jacks  or  Better 


8o  cents  in  trade 
so  cents  in  trade 
40  cents  in  trade 
20  cents  in  trade 
10  cents  in  trade 
5 cents  in  trade 


5 Cts.  a Chance 


Pick-Out  Card 


GAMBLING  AN 


^xNg  devices 


229 


" I have  seen  groups  of  boys  and  young  men  in  pool-rooms 
and  cigar  stores  on  Sunday  around  the  counters  playing  these 
games.  It  does  not  take  very  long  for  the  owner  to  use  up  one 
of  these  cards,  and  the  profits  vary,  according  to  the  card  used, 
from  $3.20  to  $7.00,  aside  from  the  profits  made  on  the  goods  dis- 
tributed in  trade. 

Sometimes  the  cards  have  the  name  of  a horse  or  a fish 
underneath  the  seal.  Other  cards  have  numbers,  certain  num- 
bers winning  candy,  and  one  number,  corresponding  with  a num- 
ber under  a seal  (which  is  not  removed  until  all  the  numbers  have 
been  played),  gains  a special  prize.  As  each  seal  is  removed  the 
player  writes  his  name  or  initials  in  the  space  from  which  he  re- 
moved the  seal,  and  if  he  should  have  drawn  the  winning  number 
he  is  entitled  to  the  prize.  It  sometimes  happens  that  the  win- 
ning prize  is  never  delivered  to  the  party  to  whom  it  rightly 
belongs,  and  for  several  reasons.  It  may  be  that  a traveller  has 
been  the  successful  one  but  he  never  inquires  any  more  about 
it;  a casual  visitor  to  the  store,  or  a person  who  is  very  indiffer- 
ent as  to  whether  he  wins  or  not,  might  be  the  successful  one ; 
then  the  proprietor  will  take  the  prize  for  himself  and  none  of 
the  players  get  it. 

•Another  form  of  card  has  a display  of  fancy  case  pipes.  One 
I have  before  me  just  now  contains  300  seals  which  sell  at  ten 
cents.  The  dealer  puts  up  six  pipes  valued  at  fifty  cents  each, 
and  twelve  pipes  valued  at  twenty-five  cents  each,  making  a total 
yalue  of  six  dollars.  He  pays  one  dollar  for  the  board  and  pos- 
sibly three  dollars  for  a capital  prize  to  be  given  to  the  winner 
of  the  “ lucky  ” number.  This  makes  an  outlay  of  ten  dollars 
at  retail  value.  The  sale  of  300  seals  at  ten  cents  nets  him  thirty 
dollars,  thus  making  the  profit  on  the  whole  transaction  of 
twenty  dollars.  This  ought  to  be  sufficient  to  satisfy  most  men. 

Then  there  is  a card  made  which  contains  a display  of  mer- 
chandise, but  the  plaver  does  not  know  what  he  has  to  pay  for 
his  chance  until  he  has  removed  the  seal.  It  may  be  a name  or 
a number  that  will  be  found  under  the  seal,  which  will  represent 
the  amount  to  be  paid,  varying  from  ten  to  fifty  cents,  and  even 
then  he  may  not  be  successful  in  obtaining  anything  in  return 
for  his  money. 


PUNCH  BOARDS. 

The  punch  board  consists  of  a board  about  half  an  inch  in 


230 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


thickness  pierced  with  a number  of  holes.  The  one  shown  in 
the  illustration  contains  600.  In  each  of  the  holes  is  concealed  a 
small  piece  of  paper  on  which  is  printed  a number.  The  usual 
price  for  a chance  on  the  board  is  ten  cents.  The  player  takes 
a small  peg  and  places  it  over  one  of  the  white  spots,  presses  it 
into  the  hole,  which  action  causes  the  paper  with  the  number  on 
to  come  out  at  the  back  of  the  board. 

A number  of  prizes  are  given  with  the  board,  and  on  this 
particular  make  something  is  given  with  every  play.  The  major- 
ity of  boards  are  not  nearly  as  generous  as  this  one,  for  while  a 
few  prizes  may  be  offered,  the  chances  are  that  590  times  out  of 
600  nothing  at  all  is  given. 

The  reader  will  notice  a circle  at  the  top  of  the  illustration 
which  denotes  that  a hidden  nuniber  is  placed  there.  One  of 
the  numbers  punched  out  of  the  board  should  correspond  with 
the  number  hidden  there.  Sometimes  the  proprietor  will  so  ar- 
range it  that  none  of  his  customers  get  the  grand  premium,  but 
will  take  it  himself  and  sell  it  outright  in  the  same  manner  that 
he  sells  other  articles  in  his  store.  Other  premiums  are  given. 

It  is  claimed  for  these  boards  that  they  are  perfectly  legiti- 
mate because  they  give  something  with  every  play,  and  are 
therefore  “ trade  stimulators  ’’  and  not  gambling  implements. 
The  very  fact  of  the  board  containing  a prize  larger  in  value 
than  the  amount  paid  for  the  chance  constitutes  it  gambling"  for 
the  player  would  not  generally  play  on  the  board  unless  there 
was  some  inducement  to  gain  more  than  he  paid.  » 

It  is  surprising  to  see  the  number  of  merchants  who  e.x- 
hibit  these  game  cards  and  punch  boards.  What  business  has 
a reputable  dry  goods  merchant  or  a druggist  to  lend  their  aid 
in  instilling  into  the  minds  of  the  young  people  the  principles 
of  gambling?’  A mother  once  told  me  that  she  wished  they  could 
be  put  out  of  business  for  her  boys  were  losing  all  their  money 
on  these  games. 

An  agent  showed  me  a letter  he  received  from  one  of  the 
manufacturers  in  which  it  urged  him  in  introducing  the  punch 
boards  to  make  an  appeal  to  the  self-interest  of  the  merchant. 
That  is  the  truth  of  the  whole  situation.  Greed  is  the  predomi- 
nating factor  in  the  mind  of  the  average  merchant  to-day.  Show 
him  where  he  can  make  a few  extra  dollars  easily,  or  without 
Avorking  for  them,  and  he  will  grab  at  it.  Elders,  deacons  and 
church  workers  are  not  exempt  from  this  fault.  I know  many 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


231 


A BOX  OF  FINE  CHOCOLATES 

-FOR- 


NO  BLANKS  ^ ^ NO  BLANKS 

PERSON  HOLDING  NUMBER  CORRESPONDING  TO  HIDDEN  NUMBER  IS  ENTITLED  TO  THE 
eiAID  PnEHIUII-32  PIECE  SET  POSAIIE  SIEPIIHC  SIEVES  PLAIED  TABLEWASE.  IS  SCEID  OAK  CHEST 


Punch  Board. 


232 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


of  them  who  do  not  scruple  to  put  these  games  on  exhibition 
as  they  class  them  as  innocent  amusements. 

On  one  occasion  I went  into  a store  and  saw  a boy  playing 
on  a game  card,  or  what  is  commonly  called  a “ pick-out  ” card. 
He  had  spent  eighty  cents  in  five-cent  draws,  and  all  he  received 
in  return  was  five  cents  in  trade.  Unfortunately  the  losses  do  not 
deter  the  boys  from  playing  for  they  reason  that  after  so  many 
reverses  it  must  surely  soon  take  a turn  for  the  better. 

It  would  be  well  for  the  citizens  of  this  country  to  get  after 
the  authorities  and  see  that  these  implements  are  put  out  of 
business.  They  are  a thousand  per  cent  worse  than  the  poker 
room  or  the  regular  gambling  house,  for  in  those  places  the  play 
is  somewhat  limited  to  numbers ; while  in  towns  where  these 
games  are  allowed  to  run  there  will  be  hundreds  of  stores  using 
them,  and  it  necessarily  follows  that  there  will  be  hundreds  of 
persons  who  will  play  them.  Thousands  of  boys  and  young  men 
would  never  know  anything  about  the  arts  of  gambling  if  it  were 
not  for  these  games. 

How  can  we  expect  the  ministers  of  the  gospel  and  teachers 
in  our  public  schools  to  exert  a moral  influence  over  our  boys  if 
such  games  are  to  be  allowed  to  run  without  any  interference? 
No  other  means  can  be  calculated  to  make  this  country  a nation 
of  gamblers  more  quickly  than  the  games  here  represented. 

Let  every  institution  for  the  betterment  of  morals  and 
every  parent  join  forces  in  crushing  out  this  viper  that  is  de- 
stroying the  true  principle  of  manhood ; and  now  that  the 
women  are  securing  the  vote  in  many  parts  of  the  country,  it 
will  be  well  for  them  to  take  up  this  matter  in  the  most  earnest 
manner  possible,  and  so  take  away  this  vile  temptation. 


THE  GAMBLER’S  CHILD. 

You  ask  me  why  so  oft,  father, 

The  tears  roll  down  my  cheek. 

And  think  it  strange  that  I should  own 
A grief  I dare  not  speak; 

But  oh,  my  soul  is  very  sad. 

My  brain  is  almost  wild; 

It  breaks  my  heart  to  think  that  I 
Am  called  a gambler’s  child. 

My  playmates  shun  me  now,  father. 

Or  pass  me  by  with  scorn, 

Because  my  dress  is  ragged,  and 
My  shoes  are  old  and  torn; 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


233 


And  if  I heed  them  not,  “ There  goes 
The  gambler’s  girl,”  they  cry; 

Oh  then  how  much  I wish  that  God 
Would  only  let  me  die. 

You  used  to  love  me  once,  father. 
And  we  had  bread  to  eat; 

Mamma  and  I were  warmly  clad. 

And  life  seemed  very  sweet; 

You  never  spoke  unkindly  then. 

Or  dealt  the  angry  blow; 

O father,  dear,  ’tis  sad  to  think 
That  gambling  changed  you  so. 

Do  not  be  angry  now,  father. 

Because  I tell  you  this. 

But  let  me  feel  upon  my  brow 
Once  more  thy  loving  kiss; 

And  promise  me  your  heart  no  more 
With  gambling  be  defiled. 

That  from  a life  of  want  and  woe 
Thou’lt  save  thy  weeping  child. 


DON’T. 

The  late  John  W.  Gales,  famous  the  world  over  as  “ Bet-You- 
a-Millioii  ” Gates,  the  best  advertised  “ gamblin’  man  ” in  America, 
on  December  15,  1909,  astounded  the  seventh  annual  conference 
of  the  gulf  division  of  the  Methodist  church,  at  Port  Arthur,  Tex., 
with  the  following  spectacular  “ Don’ts”: 

Don’t  gamble. 

Don't  play  cards. 

Don't  bet  on  horse  races. 

Don’t  speculate  in  wheat. 

Don’t  speculate  on  the  stock  exchange. 

Don’t  throw  dice. 

Don’t  shirk  honest  labor. 

Don’t  be  a gambler ; once  a gambler,  always  one. 

The  ministers  agreed  these  “ don’ts  ” were  all  right,  coming 
as  they  did  from  a man  whose  heavy  betting  on  horse  races  aroused 
the  Jockey  Club  of  New  York  to  warn  him  to  modify  his  wagers; 
whose  spectacular  gambling  at  “ draw  poker  ” and  bridge  are  famed 
in  song  and  poetry ; who  matched  pennies  for  $1,000  a throw,  who 
cornered  corn  and  bucked  Standard  Oil  and  United  States  Steel 
“ off  the  boards  ” in  the  stock  exchange. 


CHICAGO. 


The  year  1911  saw  the  greatest  upheaval  in  the  police  de- 
partment of  the  city  that  was  ever  known.  Two  commissions 
held  active  investigations  into  the  vice  conditions  of  the  city, 
viz.,  the  Chicago  Vice  Commission,  under  the  presidency  of  Dean 
Walter  D.  Sumner,  the  other  being  under  the  City  Civil  Service 
Commission.  Both  of  these  commissions  deserve  great  credit 
for  the  work  done  in  r<^vealing  to  the  public  the  true  conditions 
as  they  actually  existed,  and  for  the  action  taken  to  remedy  the 
same. 

The  vice  commission  probed  into  the  very  heart  of  the  vice 
districts,  not  for  the  purpose  of  prosecuting  those  connected 
with  vice,  but  to  discover  the  causes  and  recommend  an  ultimate 
remed}^  The  civil  service  commission  requested  certain  in- 
formation from  the  vice  commission,  but  Dean  Sumner  did  not 
see  his  way  clear  to  furnish  all  they  asked  for,  and  gave  his 
reasons,  in  part,  as  follows : “ It  was  clearly  understood  that 
the  material  secured  from  this  sociological  study  and  delibera- 
tion was  not  for  prosecuting  purposes.  Blad  any  other  under- 
standing obtained  it  is  questioned  if  any  member  of  the  present 
commission  would  have  acted  in  the  capacit}^  as  a member  of 
the  commission.  The  commission  was  specifically  appointed  to 
discover  causes  and  recommend  a remedy.  This  was  done.  By 
way  of  furnishing  exact  facts  as  to  existing  conditions,  the  re- 
port contains  statements  of  actual  cases  of  violations  and  eva- 
sions of  various  laws.  The  statements  of  these  cases  were  made 
not  for  the  purpose  of  laying  cases  before  the  proper  authorities 
for  the  institution  of  prosecutions,  but  for  the  general  purpose 
of  showing  weak  points  in  the  present  method  of  administer- 
ing and  enforcing  laws  affecting  vice.  The  laws  and  machinery 
to  execute  and  enforce  them  were  in  existence  long  before  the 
commission  was  thought  of.  The  vice  commission  was  not 
appointed  to  do  the  work  of  prosecuting  officers,  grand  juries, 
state  or  city  commissions,  or  other  inquisitorial  bodies,  but  to 
do  its  own  work  in  its  own  Avay,  and.  among  other  things,  to 
report  its  conclusions  as  to  why  the  conditions  were  as  bad  as 
they  are.” 


334 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


235 


The  above  explanation  is  sufficient  to  show  the  nature  and 
extent  of  the  work  outlined  for  the  vice  commission.  Mayor 
Harrison  acted  in  the  best  interest  of  the  public  when  he  stood 
at  the  back  of  the  commission. 

In  the  course  of  investigation  much  evidence  had  come  to 
hand  regarding  the  gambling  situation  in  Chicago.  The  real 
fight  commenced  when  the  civil  service  commission  undertook 
to  investigate  the  police  department.  Among  the  first  to  be 
brought  in  were  the  police  officials  who  were  on  duty  around 
Comisky  baseball  park  on  Labor  Day.  As  a result  of  this  in- 
vestigation Lieut.  William  W.  Walsh  was  found  guilty  of  neglect 


of  duty  and  inefficiency.  The  verdict  is  said  to  have  been  reached 
on  the  evidence  of  photographs  depicting  gambling-  scenes  at  the 
park  and  the  testimony  of  a few  newspaper  men  and  citizens. 
Against  this  was  the  testimony  of  nearly  one  hundred  police- 
men who,  after  taking  oaths,  solemnly  insisted  they  “ saw  no 
gambling.”  Lieut.  Walsh  admitted  tliat  gambling  took  place, 
but  did  not  hold  his  men  to  blame  for  not  seeing  the  games  be- 
cause of  the  great  crowd  of  people  which  filled  the  streets  near 
the  park  and  the  almost  continuous  blockade  of  street  cars. 

Assistant  Chief  of  Police  Llerman  F.  Schuettler  testified  be- 
fore the  commission  that  he  believed  gambling  existed  in  Chi- 
cago. He  also  asserted  that  occasional  gambling  raids  were 
tipped  off  by  the  police  and  that  gambling  can  be  suppressed 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


•?;3G 

if  the  police  make  an  honest  effort  to  drive  it  out.  He  had 
previously  been  in  charge  of  the  gambling  squad,  for  two  pre- 
vious periods,  during  Avhich  time  gambling  had  been  practically 
eliminated.  He  also  stated  he  believed  iMont  Tennes  was  still 
in  the  gambling  business. 

Schuettler  gave  his  experiences  of  the  two  periods  when  he 
had  charge  of  the  gambling  squad.  He  stated  that  his  first 
squad  closed  out  VMshington  park,  drove  out  lotteries  and 
raided  all  sorts  of  gambling  houses,  making  a total  of  4,8-50 
arrests:  that  200  operators  were  indicted,  300  telephones  torn 
out,  and  $35,000  fines  assessed  against  the  gamblers.  During 
the  second  period  that  he  had  charge  of  the  gambling  squad  he 
was  not  so  successful  in  suppressing  gambling  as  he  was  fre- 
quently interfered  with,  and  that  the  men  whom  he  thought  were 
doing  good  work  would  be  ordered  away  from  him.  Vhen 
asked  for  the  reasons  wdiy  they  were  ordered  away  from  him,  he 
said  that  sometimes  they  were  accused  of  grafting;  that  two 
men  who  had  never  pulled  a gambling  house  in  their  lives  had 
been  accused  of  grafting. 

It  was  alleged  that  on  the  return  of  Schuettler  from  the 
civil  service  commission  enquiry,  that  he  had  a hot  interview 
with  Chief  McA^^eeny.  It  ended  by  AlcVeeny  giving  his  sult- 
ordinate  orders  to  suppress  gambling  and  offered  him  all  the 
men  he  wanted.  The  testimony  of  Schuettler  before  the  com- 
mission was  flatly  contradictory  to  that  of  AlcVeeny.  AIc- 
Weeny  had  contended  that  there  was  no  gambling;  Schuettler 
had  said  that  there  was  and  that  an  honest  eff'ort  on  the  part  of 
the  police  could  suppress  it.  He  was  now  given  an  opportunity 
to  prove  his  assertions  and  make  good.  He  was  to  be  held  re- 
sponsible for  any  gambling  that  took  place  in  the  city. 

It  was  4 :05  o’clock  in  the  afternoon  when  the  assistant 
chief  left  his  superior  officer’s  office.  The  chief  had  given  his 
O.  K.  to  a list  of  twenty  men  for  the  gambling  squad.  At  4:20 
o’clock  a visitor  entered  the  assistant  chief’s  office.  Schuettler 
was  at  the  telephone.  “ Tear  them  out,”  he  was  roaring  through 
the  transmitter.  “ Get  every  telephone  and  every  racing  sheet.’’ 
He  explained  to  the  visitor  that  it  was  the  first  raid  made  by 
his  squad,  and  went  on  further  to  say,  “ One  of  my  men  just 
reported  they  caught  a couple  of  dozen  fellows  and  wanted  to 
know  about  tearing  out  the  telephones.  Yes.  it  looks  like  I 
guessed  right  when  I told  the  commission  that  there  still  is 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


237 


gambling  and  Mont  Tennes  is  doing  business.  The  boys  say 
Ed.  Tennes,  Mont’s  brother,  is  one  of  the  men  under  arrest.” 

Within  fifteen  minutes  after  the  raid  every  gambler  and 
book-maker  doing  business  in  the  city  was  flashed  the  news, 
“ Schuettler’s  on  the  job.” 

The  gambling  place  raided  was  over  Billy  Mangler’s  saloon 
and  restaurant  at  21  North  La  Salle  Street.  It  was  said  that  in 
the  earlier  part  of  the  afternoon  over  a hundred  men  had  visited 
the  place.  About  fifteen  men  got  away  by  means  of  the  fire  es- 
cape and  the  back  stairway. 

Schuettler  continued  to  keep  his  squad  busy.  iMayor  Harri- 


Conrtesy  Chicago  Tribune. 


son  gave  him  every  encouragement  to  go  ahead  and  clean  up 
the  city  and  get  rid  of  the  gambling  fraternity. 

Detective  Sloyer  found  a gambling  telephone  in  operation 
at  the  AVelch  cigar  store,  4007  \ATst  Lake  Street,  and  confiscated 
it.  A search  showed  no  gambling  evidence  and  no  arrests  were 
made.  The  telephone  bell  rang.  “ I’ll  make  this  bet,”  Slo3^er  re- 
marked and  answered  the  phone.  He  listened  to  a man  who 
wanted  to  make  a racing  bet  and  then  pulled  out  the  instru- 
ment. “ It’s  being  used  for  gambling  purposes,”  the  detective 
said  in  answer  to  protests. 

It  appeared  that  in  some  instances  the  gambling  squad 
brought  information  to  Schuettler  that  gambling  houses  were 
being  guarded  by  policemen. 


238 


GAMBLING  AND  GA^^IBLING  DEVICES. 


The  raid  into  Chinatown  resulted  in  eight  gambling  places 
being  raided,  158  inmates  and  operators  arrested,  and  $388  in 
money  confiscated.  It  was  claimed  that  of  the  6,000  Chinese  in 
the  city,  that  each  leave  of  an  average  $1.50  a week  in  the  gam- 
bling houses,  or  almost  $500,000  a year,  also  that  the  “ joints  ” 
were  so  openly  operated  that  they  bore  gambling  house  signs  in 
Chinese  on  the  doorways,  and  lamps  were  left  in  the  hallways  at 
night  to  guide  strangers  to  subterranean  gambling  rooms. 

Inspector  John  Wheeler  testified  before  the  commission  that 
he  knew  of  the  existence  of  the  Chinese  gambling  places,  but 
declared  the  inability  of  his  detectives  to  understand  the  lan- 
guage and  nature  of  their  games  prevented  convictions.  Fantan 
and  bungloo  are  the  faA^orite  Chinese  games. 

It  appeared  during  the  investigation  that  IMcWeeny  had  a 
peculiar  view  of  his  own  as  to  what  constituted  gambling.  On 
the  23rd  of  September  an  order  was  issued  to  the  effect  that  all 
forms  of  gambling  in  cigar  stores  and  saloons  were  to  be  stopped. 
The  officers  immediately  began  to  see  that  the  law  was  enforced. 
What  was  the  result?  The  report  as  appeared  in  the  “Chicago 
Tribune,”  September  27th,  will  explain  matters. 


GAMBLING  AS  SEEN  BY  ^TWEENY  (AND  OTHERS). 

Gamble.  To  play  or  game  for  money  or  other  stake — Web- 
ster’s LBiabridged  Dictionary. 

Gaming.  Whoever  shall  play  for  money  or  other  valuable 
thing  at  any  game  of  cards,  dice,  checks,  or  at  billiards  or  with 
any  other  article,  instrument,  or  thing  whatsoever  which  may 
be  used  for  the  purpose  of  playing  or  betting  upon,  or  winning 
or  losing  monev.  or  anv  other  thing  or  article  of  value,  or  shall 
bet  on  any  game  others  may  be  playing  shall  be  fined  not  ex- 
ceeding $100  and  not  less  than  $10. — Illinois  Revised  Statutes. 

Sept.  26,  1911. 

To  Inspectors.  Relative  to  the  order  issued  the  23d  instant 
concerning  dice  shaking  in  cigar  stores,  saloons,  etc.,  you 
are  advised  that  this  order  had  reference  to  games  where  the 
dice  shaking  degenerated  into  a form  of  gambling  for  money 
and  was  not  intended  to  prohibit  games  where  the  customer  re- 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


239 


ceived  an  equivalent  in  merchandise  in  stock  and  for  the  sale  on 
the  premises  and  which  are  operated  merely  for  the  purpose  of 
stimulating  trade,  provided  that  the  amount  to  be  played  for 
does  not  exceed  25  cents. — John  McWeeny,  General  Superin- 
tendent. 

“ The  Chief  finds  that  dice  throwing  for  drinks  and  cigars 
with  a 25  cent  limit  is  a perfectly  innocent  game.  Any  ‘ hiking  ’ 
of  this  modest  stake  is  to  be  considered  as  gambling.” 

” I see  all  the  dice  games  are  running  again,”  said  a reporter 
to  Chief  McWeeny  late  in  the  afternoon.  “ Have  you  changed 
your  order  about  stopping  them?” 

“ Yes,”  was  the  reply  after  a moment’s  pause.  “ They  went 
too  far  in  enforcing  it.  It  wasn’t  meant  for  the  games  except 
where  there  was  gambling  going  on.” 

“ You  mean  that  you  will  permit  the  ‘ 13  ’ and  ‘ 23  ’ games 
for  cigars  and  drinks  to  go  on?” 

“ Yes,  there’s  no  harm  in  those.  AYhy,  I’ve  had  a lot  of 
kicks  because  they  were  stopped.  Why,  one  man  who  lives  in  a 
hotel  told  me  that  he  came  down  this  morning  and  said  to  the 
bartender  that  he  would  shake  him  for  his  morning’s  morning, 
and  the  bartender  said  there  was  nothing  doing.  He  had  a kick 
coming.” 

“ Then  all  these  games  will  be  allowed  to  run?” 

“ Why,  there’s  no  harm  in  it  if  a man  wants  to  shake  for  a 
cigar  or  drink ; and  there’s  no  harm  in  it  if  he  wants  to  take  a 
few  checks  and  put  them  in  his  pocket  and  go  in  and  get  a 
drink  or  a cigar  now  and  then.” 

“ And  you  changed  your  order  to  stop  these  games  ?” 

“Yes,  I modified  it.  I issued  it  because  we  heard  that  there 
was  some  gambling  in  connection  with  these  games.  It’s  all 
right  where  they  don’t  cash  the  checks  in  afterward.” 

“ What’s  the  difference  between  a man  gambling  against  an- 
other man  and  a man  gambling  against  ‘the  house?’  Isn’t  one 
gambling  just  as  much  as  the  other?” 

O,  anything’s  a gamble  you  take  a chance  on.  You  might 
make  a date  with  one  girl  and  she’d  turn  you  down.  You’re 
taking  a chance.” 

“ Then  you  think  that  ])laying  for  checks  for  cigars  and 
drinks  is  not  gambling?” 

“ No.  that  isn’t  gambling.” 


340 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


Here  we  have  the  case  where  a chief  of  police  issues  an 
order  on  his  own  private  opinion  instead  of  applying  the  law  as 
laid  down  for  him  in  the  Statute  Book.  It  is  the  general  opinion 


*'  If  the  McWceoy  lead 
the  McWeeny, both  eball 
Fall  into  the  Ditch.’* 


McWeenyman’s  Buff. 


“I  am  McWeeny, 
totally  McWeeny.” 


Love  looks  not  with 
the  eyes  but  with  the 
mind,  and  therefore  is 
winged  Cupid  painted 
McWeeny. 


“Who  la  90  Deafe  or 
60  McWeeny  as  Is  hee 
that  willfully  neither 
Heare  or  See?” 


“ But  Love  is  McWeeny 
and  lovers  cannot  see  the 
petty  follies  that  they 
themselves  commit.” 


“ Jf  a man  look  sharply 
and  attentively,  he  shall 
see  Fortune;  for  though 
she  is  McWeeny,  she  is 
not  invisible,” 


was  eyes  to  the 
McWeeny,  and  feet  was 
I to  the  Lame.” 


Courtesy  Chicago  Tribune. 


that  the  police  are  appointed  to  enforce  the  laws  as  they  exist, 
and  if  the  laws  do  not  suit  their  own  individual  opinions,  and 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


241 


they  are  not  willing  to  enforce  the  laws,  then  they  should  get  out 
of  the  office  as  quickly  as  possible.  There  is  certainly  no  in- 
justice done  to  anyone  in  enforcing  the  laws  against  gambling. 
The  quotation  from  the  Illinois  Revised  Statutes  very  closel}^ 
defines  what  is  meant  by  gambling,  and  it  would  be  well  for 
other  states  to  do  likewise. 

The  late  Professor  David  Swing  once  said  of  Gambling,  “ It 
is  difficult  to  measure  this  vice,  but  it  is  so  great  as  to  merit 
from  all  civilized  States  immediate  destruction.  Like  the  opium 
habit,  it  must  be  checked  by  law.  When  the  police  will  not  en- 
force an  existing  law,  they  cease  to  be  police,  because  the  word 
‘ police  ’ implies  the  care  of  a city,  the  study  of  its  welfare.  It 
is  a bad  condition  of  wool-growing  when  wolves  are  employed  to 
guard  sheep.” 

The  civil  service  commission,  on  evidence  obtained,  sus- 
pended several  police  officers  of  various  grades.  This  had  the 
effect  of  inspiring  the  remainder  to  active  service. 

Charges  of  graft  in  connection  with  protection  of  vice  rvas 
freely  alleged. 

I Henry  Brolaski,  a reformed  gambler,  who  sometimes  works 
in  connection  with  the  American  Civic  Reform  League,  was  on 
the  stand  for  three  hours  and  related  his  version  of  “ under- 
I ground  Chicago.”  He  testified,  under  oath,  of  paying  $40,000  for 
I protection  for  a gambling  business  which  was  stopped  by  a gov- 
I ernment  fraud  order.  He  also  swore  that  he  had  furnished  Mc- 
' Weeny  with  innumerable  reports  on  vice  conditions  since  the 
I chief  took  office.  He  stated  that  his  connection  with  two  high 
I police  officials  had  been  reached  through  Ben  R.  Hyman  and 
I “Tom”  Costello,  two  formerly  powerful  figures  in  the  gaming 
1 “ trust  ” of  the  city.  He  described  Hyman  as  a confidential  man 
I,  of  the  chief,  and  Costello  a corresponding  relation  to  Inspector 
Hunt. 

The  following  monthly  scale  of  “ protection  prices  ” accord- 
ing to  Hyman’s  report,  as  read  by  Brolaski,  were  in  force : 
Saloons  open  all  night  $50;  All  night  saloon  with  music  $75; 
Crap  games  $50  ; Poker  games  $25  ; Resorts  selling  liquor  $100  ; 
Apartments,  liquor  selling  $15.  Aid,  Coughlin  and  Frielman 
were  stated  to  be  the  agents  for  Egandale  whisky  and  compelled 
all  dives  to  use  their  brand,  and  that  all  cigarettes  and  silk 
kimonas  used  by  inmates  of  the  resorts  had  to  be  purchased  from 
the  levee  trust. 


242 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


Chief  McWeeny,  after  Brolaski  had  testified,  said  much  of 
the  testimony  of  the  former  gambler  was  false. 

Louis  Levin-e,  alleged  west  side  resort  keeper,  named  from 
the  witness  stand  as  chief  beneficiary  of  vice  tribute  levied 
on  west  side  resort  keepers  and  gamblers,  Barney  Grogan,  Eight- 
teenth  rvard  “boss.”  He  said  the  rates  paid  were  as  follows: 

That  he  paid  $400  to  “ Barney  ” Grogan  to  be  allowed  to 
operate  his  resort  at  123  North  Sangamon  Street. 

That  he  paid  $250  to  Grogan  for  Percival  Steele,  attorney  for 
Harry  Brolaski,  and  head  of  the  Affiliated  Civic  League. 

That  a flat  rate  of  $200  a month  was  paid  by  gambling 
houses  to  “ Patsy  ” King,  Grogan’s  gambling  collector. 

That  $40  a month  was  paid  by  gambling  houses  to  Detectives 
McShane  and  McSwiggen,  confidential  men  of  Inspector 
Dorman. 

That  gambling  houses  which  ran  more  than  one  sort  of  game 
other  than  book-making  had  to  pay  20  per  cent  of  the  extra  game 
profits  to  Grogan’s  collector. 

That  Inspector  Dorman  and  Capt.  Plunkett  (who  resigned 
under  fire)  were  the  police  “ bosses  ” with  whom  Grogan  divided 
the  vice  tribute. 

Levine’s  testimony  not  only  shook  the  police  department 
and  the  politicians  but  brought  forth  a statement  from  iMayor 
Idarrison.  Every  ounce  of  pressure  possible  was  brought  to  bear 
upon  the  mayor  to  check  the  police  investigation. 

" I want  to  say  that  nothing  can  stop  this  investigation.”  the 
mayor  said.  “ It’s  going  to  the  bottom — no  matter  whom  it 
hits.  This  was  started  for  a purpose — for  the  purpose  of  finding 
out  whether  the  members  of  the  department  are  in  collusion  with 
vicious  interests.  The  investigation  will  be  finished.  * * * 

It  has  l)een  suggested  this  investigation  was  started  to  get  cer- 
tain men  out  of  the  department.  This  is  not  true,  for  all  the 
men  that  have  been  mentioned  could  have  been  eliminated  in 
other  ways,  as  ever}’  captain  and  inspector  with  the  exception 
of  three  could  be  retired  if  that  was  all  that  could  be  desired. 
It  was  also  suggested  that  this  investigation  was  for  the  pur- 
pose of  reorganizing  the  department  along  new  lines  and  the 
elimination  of  all  police  inspectors  has  been  mentioned  in  this 
regard.  The  inspectors  could  be  eliminated  easily  by  not  mak- 
ing a budget  appropriation  for  their  salaries.  The  purpose  of 
this  investigation  is  to  find  out  the  guilty  men,  if  there  are  any, 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


243 


and  to  put  the  fear  of  God  into  the  hearts  of  others  who  hat^e 
not  fallen  so  that  they  will  remember  this  investigation  of  the 
year  1911.” 

Levine  when  asked  if  he  had  ever  seen  money  paid  over  by 
the  gamblers  answered  that  he  had. 

The  civil  service  investigation  will  long  be  remembered  by 
the  citizens  of  Chicago  for  the  fearless  manner  in  which  the 
members  of  the  commission  carried  on  their  work ; for  the  clean- 
up of  the  police  force ; for  causing  the  break-up  of  the  gambling 
trust  and  other  forms  of  vice ; for  the  number  of  gamblers  who 
were  compelled  by  circumstances  to  seek  a livelihood  in  a more 
honest  manner ; for  the  exposure  of  the  graft  system  that  pre- 
vailed; and  for  the  noble  stand  taken  by  the  mayor  of  the  city. 

When  will  the  heads  of  the  executive  power  in  our  cities 
understand  that  the  people  are  committed  to  their  care  in  a very 
real  way?  When  will  they  take  the  opportunity  afforded  them 
of  protecting  the  citizens  from  the  gamblers  who  prey  upon  the 
public,  stand  on  the  street  corners,  and  congratulate  themselves 
on  the  protection  afforded  them  by  the  police?  If  the  mayor  of 
a city  will  not  enforce  the  laws  then  he  is  a dishonest  man  and 
;i  even  ceases  to  be  a law-abiding  citizen  himself,  for  he  refuses  to 
il  recognize  the  laws  he  had  sworn  on  oath  to  enforce.  I venture 
;;  to  say  that  a large  percentage  of  the  mayors  of  cities  in  this 
!:  country  could  be  impeached  for  malfeasance  and  nonfeasance  in  of- 
!|  fice  if  the  truth  of  their  administrations  were  brought  to  light.  Let 
j us  hope  for  the  time  to  come  when  politics  and  politicians  will 
'I  cease  to  be  corrupted  with  graft,  and  seek  only  to  serve  the 
I common  good  of  the  people. 


THE  POCKET  DROP  CASE. 


This  machine  is  the  latest  form  of  drop  case  out.  It  is  made 
specially  for  those  who  wish  to  make  the  “quiet  play.”  As  the 
size  is  only  dVo  by  31/2  inches,  it  can  be  easily  carried  in  the 


coat  pocket  and  brought  out  for  display  when  a convenient 

opportunity  occurs.  . 

It  has  all  the  arrangements  designed  for  getting  the  victin  s 

money  just  the  same  as  the  larger  machines.  The  operator  has 

244 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


245 


the  same  control,  and  can  make  it  come  blank  or  prize,  or 
“represent”  at  will.  It  looks  innocent  enough,  but  is  not  nearly 
as  innocent  as  some  of  the  young  boys  who  are  induced  to 
venture  their  nickels  and  dimes  upon  it.  It  may  look  like  a 
toy — but  it  is  not  a toy. 


THE  CHICAGO  COUNTRY  STORE  WHEEL. 

This  is  advertised  as  a “Miniature  Department  Store,”  and 
the  most  unique  merchandise  vender  ever  invented.  Also  that 
it  will  not  only  attract  the  crowds  but  hold  them. 

The  spaces  shown  in  the  cut  are  intended  to  be  filled  by  the 
merchant  with  assorted  articles  which  often  vary  in  value  from 
a collar  button  to  a nickel  watch.  There  are  190  spaces,  ten  ot 
which  are  for  special  prizes.  These  special  prizes  are  usually  of 
much  greater  value  than  the  amount  paid  for  a chance,  which  is 
usually  ten  cents. 


To  the  right  is  a celluloid  indicator  which  tells  the  prize 
won  on  every  roll.  Suppose  twenty  patrons  have  paid  ten  cents 
each  for  a roll  at  one  time,  it  means  that  all  of  them  will  receive 
the  same  kind  of  article  as  a prize.  Were  there  no  possible 
chance  of  receiving  a larger  prize  in  excess  of  the  value  paid  for 
a chance,  there  would  be  very  little  business  done  on  a nrachine 
of  this  description,  for  the  patron  can  purchase  the  same  articles 
in  a greater  quantity  for  the  same  amount  of  money. 

If  the  proprietors  gave  anything  like  value  for  value  received 
on  these  machines,  they  could  not  afford  to  pay  $50.00  for  a 
machine  in  order  to  dispose  of  their  goods.  This  alone  speaks 
for  itself. 


246 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


CARD  DICE. 


Here  is  something  new  and  declared  to  be  a decided  novelty. 
The  above  cut  represents  a set  of  card  dice,  which  contains  a full 
deck  of  fifty-two  cards  on  each  set  of  five  dice.  All  kinds  of 
games  are  played  with  these  dice,  but  are  usually  played  as  poker 
dice,  each  player  shaking  three  throws  to  beat  his  opponent. 


AMERICAN  HAZARD. 


This  is  the  latest  Club  Room  Creation  and  guaranteed  to  get 
a play  anywhere.  The  manufacturers  claim  that  dice  users 
have  been  looking  for  something  new  so  this  is  offered  them. 

The  game  is  operated  with  three  cubes,  each  containing  six 
different  colors  on  them,  and  intended  to  be  thrown  from  a 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


247 


special  dice  shaker,  as  shown  in  the  cut,  although  this  is  not 
necessary. 

The  outfit  consists  of  a very  handsome  layout,  three  cubes 
and  a dice  shaker. 

This  game  has  “A  HANDSOME  PER  CENT  IN  FAVOR 
OF  THE  HOUSE.”  Reader,  draw  your  own  inference. 

THE  ROULETTE  “BIG  SIX”  TRADE  MACHINE  AND 
PADDLE  WHEEL,  WITH  LAYOUT. 

This  machine  can  be  used  as  a trade  stimulator,  or  can  be 
run  for  nickels,  dimes  or  dollars.  It  is  claimed  that  this  is  the 
latest  and  greatest  of  them  all  and  has  all  the  others  beat. 

It  is  an  entirely  new  departure  and  an  unlimited  number  can 
play  it  at  one  time.  “ Nothing  to  get  out  of  order.  All  can 


understand  the  game  at  a glance.  This  machine  can  be  operated 
anywhere,  as  trade  machines  are  never  molested.  Remember 
this  is  no  slot  machine,  hut  zoill  bring  you  in  more  money  than  any 
five  slot  machines  could." 

“ The  illustration  serves  to  show,  in  a miniature  way,  what 
the  printed  matter  on  the  face  of  the  regular  machine  really  is, 
the  actual  size  being  11%  inches  in  diameter.  It  is  finely  bal- 
anced and  runs  on  a pivot,  and  on  which  is  the  round  colored 
design  between  the  spaces  are  brass  pins  dividing  the  colors  and 
spaces.  A celluloid  indicator  runs  between  the  pins  and  indicates 
the  stopping  place  of  the  wheel.” 

Twelve  paddles,  each  containing  four  numbers,  are  the 
necessary  adjunct. 


THE  GOLD  BRICK  FRAUD:  TRUE  STORIES  FROM  LIFE 


By  One  of  the  Gang. 

In  exposing  this  stupendous  confidence  game,  the  author  be- 
lieves that  the  authentic  stories  herein  told  will  prove  the  most 
effective  method  of  showing  up  the  tricks  of  the  professional 
swindler,  especially  as  they  are  giyen  from  a reliable  source. 
Fiction  has  played  its  part  in  the  past,  and  the  author  has  been 
much  amused  by  some  of  the  accounts  given.  While  no  names 
will  be  mentioned  in  the  relating  of  these  incidents,  the  author 
wishes  to  inform  the  reader  that  all  the  participants  were  well 
known  to  him.  Although  many  years  have  passed  since  the 
events  actually  occurred,  yet  even  of  late  years  stories  of  gold 
brick  swindling  have  come  to  light. 

Of  all  the  devices  which  the  fertile  brain  of  the  confidence 
operator  has  originated,  it  may  be  questioned  Avhether  any  is 
more  ingenious  in  conception  or  has  reaped  a richer  harvest  for 
the  scoundrels  Avho  have  operated  it  than  has  the  “ gold  brick 
swindle.” 

The  wise  as  well  as  the  unwise  are  liable  to  bite  at  the  bait 
of  the  gold  brick  swindler  and  get  caught.  To  play  the  gold 
brick  scheme  successfully,  the  co-operation  of  at  least  three  con- 
federates is  essential,  of  whom  tw'o  must  be  gifted  with  some 
dramatic  power.  Some  little  cash  is  also  required,  it  being 
necessary  to  procure  a sample  of  filings  of  refined  gold,  one  or 
two  gold  nuggets,  and  a “ brick.”  or  bar,  of  some  thirty  pounds 
in  weight,  composed  of  brass  and  copper,  costing  about  twenty- 
five  cents  per  pound. 

The  three  confederates  are  known  respectively  as  the 
“ miner,”  the  “ trailer,”  and  the  “ Indian.” 

The  next  important  step  is  the  selection  of  a “ victim.”  He 
must  be  a man  whose  resources  are  such  as  to  enable  him  to 
produce,  at  short  notice,  a considerable  amount  in  ready  cash. 
It  is  not  considered  wise  to  Avaste  time  with  a man  who  would 
have  to  ask  accommodation  at  his  bank,  inasmuch  as  such  action 
on  his  part  might  result  in  the  institution  and  prosecution  of 
numberless  inconvenient  inquiries  by  the  bank  officials. 


348 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


249 


The  victim  having  been  carefully  selected  and  located,  the 
next  step  is  to  excite  his  cupidity. 

One  of  the  confederates,  attired  as  a miner  from  Mexico  or 
the  far  W est,  calls  upon  the  party  chosen  at  the  latter’s  residence. 
Every  detail  of  his  appearance  is  attended  to  with  the  utmost 
care,  from  the  seemingly  sun-browned  face,  the  apparent  result 
of  years  of  honest  toil  in  the  open  air,  to  the  well-worn,  patched 
trousers  carelessly  tucked  in  the  large,  coarse,  dusty  boots.  A 
battered  cowboy’s  sombrero  is  negligently  perched  upon  the 


head,  and  around  his  waist  is  drawn  a buckskin  money  belt. 
Having  gained  the  presence  of  his  prospective  dupe,  the  pre- 
tended miner  from  the  rude  camps  of  the  “ Rockies  ” presents 
a paper  on  which  is  written,  in  sprawling  characters,  the  victim’s 
name.  For  the  purpose  of  illustration,  any  name  will  answer ; 
let  us  suppose  it  to  be  Mr.  Thomas  Jones.  After  the  miner  has 
handed  this  paper  to  Tom  Jones  he  simulates  acute  disappoint- 
ment at  discovering  that  he  is  not  the  Tom  Jones  for  whom  he 
has  been  looking.  He  draws  out  an  old  red  cotton  handkerchief 
and  wipes  his  eyes,  as  he  sinks,  apparently  exhausted,  into  a 


350 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


chair.  Naturally  the  sight  of  so  quaint-looking  an  individual 
awakens  the  interest  of  Mr.  Jones,  and  his  simulated  fatigue  and 
grief  arouse  his  curiosity,  if  not  his  sympathy,  and  he  asks  the 
cause  of  his  distress.  “No,  no,”  the  sharper  answers,  “You’re 
not  the  Tom  Jones  I knows;  and  we’s  come  so  far,  and  the 
Indian’s  so  sick  he  can’t  tote  the  gold  no  furder.  And  Tom 
Jones  he  was  to  give  us  the  paper  money.”  And  here  the  miner 
permits  his  feelings  to  get  the  mastery  of  him  again,  and  he  bows 
his  head  in  deepest  sorrow.  Mr.  Jones  would  be  either  more  or 
less  than  human  if,  after  this,  he  did  not  seek  for  further  informa- 
tion. “What  Indian?  Wdiat  gold?  W''hat  paper  money?”  are 
among  the  questions  which  rise  to  his  lips.  The  miner  hesitates 
for  a moment,  and  if  there  are  any  other  persons  in  the  room  re- 
quests that  they  withdraw.  Then  he  says  to  IMr.  Jones,  with  the 
air  of  one  imparting  a great  secret:  “You  looks  honest,  and  I'll 
tell  you.  We’se  got  lots  o’  gold,  me  and  the  Indian;  and  we’se 
looking  for  Tom  Jones,  cause  he’s  got  lots  o’  paper  money,  piles 
o’  paper  money  locked  up  in  an  iron  box.  And  now  I can’t  find 
him.  I could  make  him  and  all  his  children  rich.”  “ AVhere  did 
you  get  the  gold?”  asks  the  now  deeply  interested  Air.  Jones. 
“We’se  tooken  it  out  o’  the  mine,  way  down  in  Alexico.’’ 
“Where  is  it?”  pursues  Air.  Jones.  “The  Indian,  he’s  got  it.” 
replies  the  miner.  “ And  where  is  the  Indian?”  “ Oh,”  answers 
the  miner,  “ he’s  down  to  the  big  camp,  back  over  there  (point- 
ing) with  the  house  built  over  the  water  (a  bridge).  He’s  sick, 
and  couldn’t  come  no  furder.” 

At  this  stage  it  occurs  to  Air.  Jones  that  he  has  been 
strangely  unmindful  of  the  duties  of  hospitality,  and  asks  his 
wife  to  prepare  some  refreshment  for  his  guest.  AVhile  this  is 
being  done,  the  host  seeks  further  conversation  by  asking  the 
stranger  his  name.  “ AATll,”  the  miner  says,  “ they  call  me  Dan 
in  the  mines.”  On  his  wife’s  return  with  the  refreshments,  Air. 
Tones  introduces  the  miner  to  her  as  Air.  Dan.  The  coffee  is 
poured  and  Air.  Dan  insists  upon  Air.  Jones  taking  a SAvallow  of 
his  coffee  first,  for  one  of  his  friends  was  given  sleepy  water 
(chloroform)  once,  and  he  lost  all  his  money. 

The  miner  takes  from  his  pocket  a small  button  of  gold  and 
hands  it  to  Airs.  Jones,  and  says,  " Airs.  Jones,  take  this  for  a 
present  from  me  and  my  Indian  friend.”  “ Thank  you,  ’ replies 
Airs.  Jones;  “ Is  your  coffee  sweet  enough?”  While  this  is  tak- 
ing place,  the  “ sucker,”  who  has  by  this  time  become  very  ur- 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


251 


bane,  tells  the  stranger  that  perhaps  he  is  a brother  to  the  IMr. 
Jones  he  is  looking  for;  that  his  brother  went  out  West  some 
years  ago  and  has  not  been  heard  from  since.  He  also  impresses 
the  fact  upon  the  miner  that  he  is  an  honest  man  and  rich,  that 
he  owns  lands,  stocks  and  property  of  various  description,  also 
piles  of  paper  money,  lots  of  it  in  the  iron  box  at  the  bank,  and 
therefore  it  is  unnecessary  for  the  miner  to  look  further  for  the 
other  Jones,  as  he  can  do  business  with  him.  To  this  proposal, 
however,  the  miner  refuses  to  assent.  He  wants  to  see  “ his  ” 
Mr.  Jones,  and  he  expresses  his  intention  of  going  on  to  the 
next  town,  where  he  professes  to  believe  that  he  can  find  tidings 
of  the  whereabouts  of  that  mysterious  individual.  Before  he 
takes  his  departure  he  promises,  in  compliance  with  the  oft- 
repeated  request  of  his  host,  that  in  case  he  fails  to  find  the  man 
of  whom  he  is  in  quest  he  will  return. 

The  miner  now  takes  from  his  belt  a nugget  of  gold,  hands 
it  to  the  interested  dupe,  requesting  him  to  take  it  to  the  medi- 
cine store  (drug  store)  and  have  some  smoky  water  (acid) 
poured  on  it,  then  go  to  the  Avatchmaker’s  (jeweler’s)  and  sell  it 
for  what  it  is  worth,  bring  back  the  proceeds  and  pay  himself 
for  his  trouble.  This  shrewd  move  of  the  confidence  man  serves 
a double  purpose : it  convinces  the  victim  that  the  miner  actually 
has  the  gold,  and  at  the  same  time  leads  him  to  suppose  that  he 
is  dealing  with  a man  wholly  inexperienced  in  the  ways  of  the 
world.  The  miner  bids  Mr.  Jones  and  his  family  good-bye,  and 
goes  on  his  journey  to  locate  “ his  ” Tom  Jones. 

After  a few  days  the  swindler  returns,  attired  as  before. 
He  has  failed  to  find  his  Tom  Jones,  but  has  learned  Avhere  he 
is.  He  looks  up  with  tearful  eyes  into  the  face  of  Mr.  Jones, 
asking  him  to  please  write  a letter  for  him.  About  this  time 
^Irs.  Jones  suggests  that  ]\Ir.  Dan  have  a good  dinner,  after 
Avhich  Mr.  Jones  would  write  the  letter  for  him.  “No,”  says  the 
miner,  “ I can’t  eat  till  I know  the  letter  is  gone  on  the  railway.” 
Of  course  IMr.  Jones  assents,  and  the  epistle  is  indited  to  the 
mythical  personage,  something  after  the  following  manner,  dic- 
tated by  the  miner: 

“Dear  Friend,  IMr.  Tom  Jones: — I hope  you  are  well,  and 
me  and  the  Indian  has  come  on  with  the  first  lot  of  gold.”  (Here 
the  miner  looks  around  the  room  as  if  he  {eared  some  one  would 
hear  this  A^aluable  secret  and  asks  his  Auctim  if  he  will  keep  the 
secret.  Mr.  Jones,  who  is  anxious  to  know  the  great  secret 


252 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


which  is  to  follow,  readily  promises  that  he  will.  The  miner, 
however,  insists  upon  shaking  hands  to  bind  the  bargain). 
“ We’se  got  all  the  rest  hid  away,  and  there’s  ten  millions  worth 
of  it.  Now  Tom,  you  come  right  off  with  the  paper  money, 
’cause  the  Indian  he’s  sick,  and  me  and  him  wants  to  go  back 
to  the  mines  to  get  more.” 

The  thought  of  ten  million  dollars’  worth  of  gold  in  the 
hands  of  an  ignorant  old  miner  and  an  untutored  child  of  the 
forest  excites  the  cupidity  of  Mr.  Jones  to  a high  degree.  He 
believes  that  his  superior  knowledge  of  the  world  and  his 
familiarity  with  business  customs  and  forms  would  render  it 
comparatively  easy  for  him  to  make  himself  the  owner  of  the 
lion’s  -share  of  an  immense  fortune,  and  mentally  belittles  the 
other  Tom  Tones. 

The  letter  having  been  completed,  the  miner  is  asked  to  give 
the  address.  He  promptly  answers,  “ Canada.”  “ Canada,”  re- 
peats Mr.  Jones,  “ Why  man,  Canada  has  hundreds  of  towns  and 
cities.”  “ What  city?  I don’t  know  any  city  but  Canada,”  re- 
plies the  miner,  and  instantly  begins  to  bemoan  his  hard  lot  at 
having  come  so  far  to  no  purpose,  and  the  Indian  being  so  sick. 

Mr.  Jones  believes  that  this  is  his  opportunity,  and  assures 
his  new  friend  that  he  will  get  the  paper  money  for  the  gold,  and 
after  much  persuasion  prevails  upon  the  miner  to  reveal  the 
whereabouts  of  the  Indian  who  has  in  his  custody  so  much  of 
the  precious  metal. 

The  result  of  this  interchange  of  confidence  is  that  the 
swindler  and  the  “ sucker  ” start  together  for  the  town  where 
the  Indian  is  supposed  to  be.  (Often  the  Indian  and  the  trailer 
are  on  the  same  train.)  A point  at  a distance  of  from  one  to  two 
hundred  miles  is  usually  chosen  in  which  to  locate  the  mysteri- 
ous personage.  Mr.  Jones  insists  that  the  Indian  must  return 
with  them  to  his  home,  bringing  the  gold  with  him.  The  miner 
tells  him  that  the  Indian  is  too  sick  to  come  any  furder.  On 
the  way  to  the  station  the  miner  makes  a cunning  play  by  hand- 
ing klr.  Jones  a nugget  of  gold,  telling  him  to  buy  the  tickets, 
well  knowing  the  ticket  seller  would  not  take  the  gold  nugget, 
and  that  Mr.  Jones  w'ould  have  to  pay  for  the  tickets  out  of  his 
own  pocket  and  hand  him  the  gold  back. 

On  arriving  at  their  destination,  the  other  two  confederates 
(who  have  been  apprised  of  the  hour  of  their  arrival^  are  there 
at  the  railway  station,  and  carefully  note  the  signal  given  by  the 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


253 


miner.  If  the  latter  raises  his  hat,  they  know  that  everything 
is  proceeding  satisfactorily.  If  he  shakes  the  lapel  of  his  coat, 
they  understand  that  “ the  jig  is  up,”  and  that  they  had  better 
“ take  quick  steps  and  long  ones.” 

Immediately  upon  receiving  the  pre-arranged  signal  at  the 
station,  the  first  confidence  man  and  his  victim  now  repair  to  the 
spot  in  the  woods,  where  the  Indian  had  previously  gone  to  get 


“ Mr.  Jones  gets  a glimpse  of  the  glittering,  but  spurious  metal.” 


himself  in  readiness  to  receive  his  visitors.  On  reaching  the  lo- 
cality the  “ brick  ” is  exhumed  from  its  hiding  place,  and  Mr. 
Jones  gets  a glimpse  of  the  glittering,  but  spurious,  metal. 

If  the  latter  should  go  to  a drug  store  and  purchase  a bottle 
of  acid,  with  which  the  supposed  gold  may  be  tested,  the  services 
of  the  third  confidence  man  (the  trailer)  are  called  into  requisi- 
tion, but  he  himself  is  kept  carefully  in  the  background,  as  his 
duty  is  to  keep  his  eye  continually  on  the  victim.  When  the 


254 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


dupe  procures  the  necessary  acid,  the  trailer  buys  a precise  dupli- 
cate of  the  bottle.  The  contents  of  this  latter  bottle,  however, 
are  poured  out  and  replaced  by  water. 

When  the  victim  returns  to  the  spot  where  he  has  left  the 
Indian  and  the  supposed  miner,  the  latter  has  already  received 
from  his  confederate  the  bottle  of  water,  identical  in  size,  ap- 
pearance and  label  with  that  rvhich  the  dupe  has  in  his  pocket. 
Mr.  Jones  tells  the  miner  he  has  a bottle  of  acid  and  Avould  like 
to  test  the  metal.  The  miner  says,  “ AA^ell,  I’se  glad ; but  just 
let  me  take  it  and  show  it  to  the  Indian,  so  he  will  know  it’s 
smoke  water  facid)  and  not  sleep  water  (chloroform).”  This 
ingenious  request  is  satisfactor}^  to  IMr.  Jones,  Avho  hands  the 
bottle  of  acid  to  the  miner.  On  his  way  to  the  Indian  he  changes 
bottles.  On  his  return  he  hands  to  IMr.  Jones  the  bottle  of  Avater 
which  is  poured  OA’er  the  metal  Avith  no  effect.  The  face  of  Air. 
Jones  is  illumined  with  results,  and  he  says,  “ Air.  Dan,  your 
kindness  to  me  in  this  transaction  shall  be  reciprocated  by  my 
punctuality  in  giving  you  the  paper  money  for  this  gold,  as  I 
have  promised.  I will  go  noAv  to  the  bank  and  get  you  the 
paper  money,  $5,000.”  “ No,  no,”  says  the  miner,  “ I Avants  to 
satisfy  you  more  fully,”  and  proceeds  to  hand  Air.  Jones  an  augur 
and  a brace,  requesting  him  to  bore  into  the  “ brick  ” and  take 
the  shaAungs  to  a watchmaker  to  proA'e  the  A'alue  of  it.  As  soon 
as  Air.  Jones  bores  a fair  sample  of  shaAungs,  the  sharper  places 
them  in  a piece  of  paper  torn  from  that  in  Avhich  the  brick  had 
been  wrapped,  and  ostensibly  hands  them  to  Air.  Jones;  but 
in  reality  he  giA^es  Air.  Jones  genuine  gold  shaA'ings  he  has  pre- 
A'iously  arranged  in  a package  similar  in  appearance. 

Air.  Jones  hurries  to  the  jeAveler.  The  test  shoAA^s  gold  of 
from  18  to  20  karat  fineness,  and  Air.  Jones  is  imAA”-  quite  ready 
to  make  the  purchase.  Lie  goes  to  his  bank,  draAVS  his  money, 
and  returns  to  the  Indian  and  the  miner.  The  bar  is  AA^eighed 
and  its  value  is  compttted.  Air.  Jones  then  asks  Iioaa'  the  money 
is  to  be  divided.  “ AVhy,”  replies  sharper  number  one,  “ into 
three  piles ; one  for  you,  one  for  me  and  one  for  the  Indian.” 
This  arrangement  is  eminently  satisfactory  to  the  “ sucker,”  AAdio 
has  probably  already  attempted  to  defraud  his  companions  by 
means  of  a false  computation,  and  Avho  noAV  thinks  that  he  sees 
his  Avay  clear  to  make  a purchase  of  pure  gold  at  about  tAA-o- 
thirds  of  its  value,  pays  the  money  to  the  miner  Avho  takes  it  to 
the  Indian  some  thirty  or  forty  yards  off  in  the  brush.  Return- 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


255 


ing  to  Mr.  Jones,  he  gives  him  a hearty  handshake  and  bids  him 
good-bye. 

In  a couple  of  days  Air.  Jones  is  the  recipient  of  a letter  as 
follows:  “Mr.  Tom  Jones,  Dear  old  Friend  Tom: — AVe  have 
just  dined  sumptuously  at  your  expense  on  spring  chicken,  cream 
gravy,  humming-bird  pie  with  celery  sauce,  and  a cup  of  pure 
Jave  and  Mocha  with  whipped  cream  thrown  in.  You  have  been 
a good  soft  sucker.  If  you  tell  that  you  have  been  caught  in  the 
old  ‘ gold  brick  scheme  ’ you  will  be  the  laughing  stock  of  the 
town,  and  the  people  will  say,  ‘ Did  you  ever  hear  of  old  Tom 
Jones  being  caught?  AATll,  it’s  good  for  him  for  he  has 
robbed  lots  of  people.’  Tom,  get  a cake  of  ice  and  lay  it  on  your 
head.  Goodbye.  (Signed)  Gold  Brick  Swindlers.” 

It  sometimes  happens,  in  working  the  gold  brick  swindle, 
that  the  swindlers  find  a merchant  who  is  willing  to  aid  them  on 
a percentage  basis.  Two  men  who  had  been  partners  together 
in  the  chattel  mortgage  business,  one  of  whom  had  become 
president  of  a bank,  the  other  having  gone  into  the  grocery  busi- 
ness, were  leading  features  in  another  swindle  by  the  same  party. 
The  president  of  the  bank  still  remained  in  the  chattel  mortgage 
business.  The  merchant  becomes  the  confident  of  the  miner, 
and  gives  him  valuable  information  about  his  former  partner, 
for  which  he  is  to  receive  ten  per  cent,  of  the  amount  the  banker 
chose  to  invest'. 

Having  laid  all  his  plans  with  the  utmost  care,  the  miner 
proceeds  with  his  acquaintance  with  the  banker,  and  in  due 
course  of  time  has  the  satisfaction  of  selling  him  four  bricks  for 
which  he  is  to  receive  the  sum  of  $10,000.  AA^hile  in  the  woods 
the  banker  asks  the  miner  if  he  has  any  more  bricks  at  the  same 
price.  “Yes,”  says  the  miner,  “ AVe’se  got  four  more  just  the 
same  size  in  Kansas  City  you  can  have  for  paper  money.”  “ Bring 
them  to  me,”  says  the  banker,  “ I will  pay  you  the  paper  money 
when  you  bring  them.”  The  miner  asks  him  if  he  will  give  him 
a paper  to  show  that  he  would  pay  him  the  money  as  soon  as 
he  came  with  the  gold.  The  banker  takes  from  his  pocket  a 
check  book  and  writes  a check  for  $10,000  to  be  paid  on  the  de- 
livery of  the  bricks.  The  miner  gives  the  merchant  his  ten 
per  cent.,  and  hurries  away  to  have  four  more  bricks  made  to 
deliver  to  the  banker,  leaving  the  trailer  behind  to  watch  the 
banker. 

In  a few  days  the  miner  returns  and  calls  upon  the  merchant, 


256 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


telling  him  that  he  was  prepared  to  deliver  the  four  bricks.  “ No, 
no,”  says  the  merchant,  “ Don’t  do  it;  he  will  catch  us  all  and 
send  us  to  prison  for  life.  If  you  won’t  go  to  the  bank  with  the 
other  four  bricks  I will  give  you  back  the  $1,000  for  I haven’t 
slept  an  hour  at  a time  since  you  gave  me  that  money.”  (Con- 
science makes  cowards  of  us  all. I 

The  mdner  not  being  at  all  satisfied  with  the  attitude  of  the 
merchant,  goes  to  the  hotel,  puts  on  a new  frock  coat  and  silk 
hat,  walks  into  the  bank,  gets  a $500  bill  changed  and  satisfies 
himself  that  the  banker  has  not  tumbled  to  his  being  swindled. 

The  three  confederates  were  stopping  at  separate  hotels. 
They  had  a quiet  meeting  place  where  they  came  together  and 
agreed  that  the  proper  course  was  for  the  miner  to  go  back  to 
the  merchant  and  tell  him  the  situation  was  shaky,  and  that  if  he 
would  return  the  $1,000  he  would  leave  town.  The  visit  of  the 
miner  to  the  merchant  is  successful.  The  miner  and  the  Indian 
go  to  a small  town  seventy  miles  away,  leaving  the  trailer  to 
Avatch  the  banker.  The  banker  recei\^es  a letter  begging  him  “ to 
come  Avith  the  paper  money  as  the  Indian  is  sick  and  not  able  to 
come  furder,  that  he  is  Avorn  out  and  could  not  get  to  his  tOAvn.” 
Early  in  the  morning  the  trailer  watches  the  bank.  About  ten 
o’clock  the  banker  arriA'es  in  his  carriage,  goes  into  the  bank  and 
stays  about  an  hour,  and  on  coming  out  Avalks  to  a trunk  shop, 
and  buys  two  valises.  He  takes  the  noon  train  as  the  miner 
requested  him  to  do.  On  the  arrival  of  the  train  at  its  destina- 
tion, the  trailer  signals  to  the  miner  that  the  banker  Avas  all 
right  (buying  the  A'^alises  was  proof  enough),  so  the  miner  meets 
the  banker  Avith  a hearty  handshake,  and  they  start  off  together 
to  meet  the  Indian  about  a mile  aAA^ay.  The  banker,  in  his 
eagerness  to  get  the  gold,  does  not  eA’^en  go  to  the  trouble  of 
testing  them,  but  quickly  counts  out  the  money  in  $500  bills  and 
receives  back  the  check  he  had  giA^en,  He  makes  the  Indian  a 
present  of  $100  extra,  takes  the  next  train  home,  and  places  the 
four  bricks  in  the  A'ault  Avith  the  four  others. 

Some  six  weeks  later  the  banker  saAV  in  his  daily  paper  in 
great  headlines,  the  folloAving:  “Another  ‘sucker’  caught  for 
$6,000  on  the  old  gold  brick  fraud.”  The  banker  Avent  out  quietly 
and  brought  in  the  jeAveler  to  his  bank  to  test  the  bricks  Avith 
acid,  the  test  proAung  them  not  to  be  gold,  as  they  smoked  like 
a tar-kiln.  He  bore  his  trouble  silently  for  he  Avell  kncAA"  his  past 
record  in  business  Avas  bad,  for  he  Avas  eA^ading  the  usury  laAv  and 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


257 


had  taken  furniture,  even  babies’  cradles,  from  poor  people  to 
satisfy  his  claims,  and  men  were  at  this  time  interested  in  furn- 
ishing a chattel  mortgage  man  with  moyey  which  was  being- 
loaned  at  six  per  cent,  per  month  on  personal  property.  The 
merchant  was  correct  when  he  said  he  did  not  believe  the  banker 
would  squeal  on  account  of  his  past  business  record. 

The  gold  brick  men  knew  the  situation  of  the  merchant, 
and  sent  the  Indian  along  to  play  the  detective  to  the  merchant, 
thereby  succeeding  in  scaring  him  out  of  $1,000.  The  merchant 
finally  becoming  disgusted  with  the  state  of  affairs,  sold  out  his 
business  and  left  for  parts  unknown,  never  to  return. 

The  principle  upon  Avhich  a great  majority  of  men  act,  is. 


how  much  they  can  get,  not  how  much  they  can  give.  Get  all 
they  can  and  keep  it  all.  In  other  words  legalized  robbery. 
Some  men  speak  several  languages,  but  gold  speaks  them  all 
fluently.  Sousa’s,  Godfrey’s  and  Gilmore’s  bands  are  not  in  it. 
The  jingling  of  gold  is  “sweet  music.”  John  Wesley  once  said, 
“ Get  all  you  can,  save  all  you  can,  give  all  you  can.” 

This  same  trio  of  swindlers  played  a certain  man  for  the  sum 
of  $10,000,  believing  him  to  be  a wealthy  cattle  dealer.  He  was 
a great  believer  in  palmistry  and  fortune  telling,  and  had  sub- 
scribed liberally  to  the  support  of  spiritualism.  The  gold  brick 
men  opened  a place  and  inserted  the  following  advertisement  in 
three  consecutive  issues  of  the  local  daily  paper:  “ SATYAT 
NAST  PARODHARMAT.  (There  is  no  religion  higher  than 
17 


258 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


truth.)  Ramasmami,  the  greatest  mind  reader  and  palmist 
known,  is  at , for  a few  days  only.  Past,  present  and  fu- 

ture, health,  love,  marriage,  divorce,  inheritance,  prospects  and 
results  of  business  transactions  made  known  in  strict  confidence.” 
A copy  of  the  paper  with  the  palmist’s  advertisement  marked,  was 
sent  to  the  prospective  victim.  Eighty-three  “ suckers  ” called 
at  the  place  of  business  and  were  fleeced  out  of  $135. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  third  day  the  victim  came  in,  paid 
his  five  dollars  and  presented  his  left  hand  for  a reading.  The 
palmist  told  him  he  Avas  a very  industrious  man,  that  he  was 
dealing  in  some  kind  of  animals  but  was  going  to  change  his 
business  very  soon,  and,  in  fact,  had  already  almost  completed 
the  arrangements,  and  if  he  went  through  with  it  he  would  be- 
come a ver}^  rich  man.  The  cattle  man  says,  “ I am  quite  satis- 
fied.” “ No,”  sa3"S  the  palmist,  “ the  life  line  in  your  left  hand 
which  runs  from  the  wrist  to  the  middle  finger,  also  the  line  of 
glorA"  with  the  line  of  power  all  point  to  your  right  hand  as  hold- 
ing the  key  to  the  secret  of  your  success  or  failure,  and  to  tell 
you  for  certain  the  outcome  of  your  prospects  (the  palmist  could 
tell  just  as  much  by  reading  his  foot)  I must  read  your  right 
hand.”  “Plow  much  Avill  it  cost?”  asks  the  A'ictim.  “Ten  dol- 
lars,” replies  the  palmist.  “ Plere’s  your  money.”  The  palmist 
proceeding  says,  “The  right  hand  shows  heavy  mone}'  transac- 
tions, gold,  gold  and  piles  of  it,  which  will  make  you,  your  Avife 
and  three  children  independent.”  “ That  Avill  do,”  says  the 
victim,  “ I am  satisfied  you  knoAA^  A'our  business  Avhen  you  tell  a 
perfect  stranger  he  has  a Avife  and  three  children ; it  is  marvel- 
ous.” The  “sucker”  hurries  home  to  meet  the  miner,  AA'hom  he 
is  expecting.  The  miner.  Avho  has  been  aAvay  looking  for  his 
friend,  returns  after  four  days  not  haA'ing'  succeeded  in  “finding” 
him.  He  asks  the  “sucker”  to  AA’rite  him  a letter.  “ No.”  saA's 
the  dupe,  “ I Avill  gE^e  you  paper  money  for  all  your  gold.” 
While  the  trailer  Avas  playing'  the  palmist,  the  A'ictim  had  been 
to  a drug  store  and  purchased  a bottle  of  acid,  and  the  sharpers 
neA^er  kneAA^  from  Avhich  drug  store.  The  farmer  coiiA’inced  the 
miner  that  he  himself  Avas  the  right  man  to  do  business  Avith. 
that  he  AA^as  compelled  to  be  honest  in  his  dealings  on  account 
of  his  children,  that  his  duty  and  aim  in  life  AA'as  to  so  Ha'c  as 
to  not  reflect  discredit  upon  those  three  little  darlings  he  has  to 
support. 

The  miner,  accompanied  by  the  A’ictim,  starts  on  the  journey 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


259 


to  meet  the  Indian.  Stopping  at  an  hotel  for  the  night,  they 
both  occupied  one  room  in  which  there  were  two  beds.  The 
miner  took  his  bed  and  made  it  up  on  the  floor  miner  fashion. 
While  the  farmer  was  sleeping,  the  miner  crawled  to  his  bed, 
took  the  bottle  of  acid  from  the  “ sucker’s  ” coat  pocket,  emptied 
out  the  contents  (and  in  so  doing  burned  his  hand  very  badly), 
filled  the  bottle  with  water  and  placed  it  back  into  the  “ sucker’s  ” 
pocket.  In  the  morning  the  farmer  discovers  that  the  miner  has 
his  hand  wrapped  in  a red  cotton  handkerchief,  and  asks  him 
Avhat  is  the  matter  with  it.  “ Oh,”  says  the  miner,  “ it  is  a 
breaking-out  miners  have,  caused  from  digging  in  the  mines.” 

The  visit  to  the  Indian  having  been  made,  the  victim  pays 
over  the  sum  of  $3,000  in  return  for  the  spurious  metal.  He  had 
borrowed  this  money  from  his  wife,  which  had  been  left  to  their 
children  by  her  father  and  she  had  been  appointed  administratrix 
or  executor  for  the  children,  and  she  had  given  security,  making 
those  who  had  gone  security  responsible  to  the  children  for  the 
money  when  they  reached  the  age  of  maturity. 

A short  time  after  the  deal  had  been  completed,  the  wife 
discovered  that  something  was  wrong  with  her  husband  and 
tried  to  relieve  him  of  his  despondency.  The  wife  would  ask 
him  every  day  about  the  cattle.  She  finally  went  to  a detective 
and  asked  him  to  find  out  what  was  the  trouble  that  preyed  upon 
her  husband’s  mind.  The  farmer  told  the  detective  that  he  had 
been  swindled  out  of  all  his  money  on  the  gold  brick  game,  that 
he  had  lied  to  his  wife  to  get  it,  which  hurt  him  worse  than  los- 
ing the  money ; that  he  had  deceived  a good  wife  who  had  been 
a good  mother  to  his  children. 

When  the  wife  learned  the  facts  in  the  case  she  applied  for 
a divorce.  This  action  of  the  wife’s  so  upset  the  husband  that 
he  was  taken  seriously  ill  to  the  hospital,  and  came  near  dying 
of  a broken  heart. 

When  the  gold  brick  men  heard  of  this  happening,  one  of 
them  went  to  see  him  at  the  hospital.  The  interview  between 
the  gold  brick  man  and  the  farmer  was  a long  one,  in  which  the 
latter  told  all  about  how  the  money  was  obtained  and  the  con- 
sequent result.  The  sharper  told  him  that  it  was  certain  that 
the  men  who  had  swindled  him  would  be  caught  and  sent  to 
prison,  and  the  money  restored  to  him.  “ No,  do  not  do  that,” 
said  the  victim,  “ for  it  would  not  do  me  any  good  to  send  the 
men  to  prison  who  were  smart  enough  to  beat  me.” 


260 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


The  sharper  went  out  and  bought  a basket  of  fruit,  and  on 
his  return  offered  it  to  the  sick  man.  He  thanked  the  sharper 
and  said  that  he  would  much  prefer  that  his  wife  and  children 
have  it.  They  both  cried.  A single  glance  in  the  sick  man’s 
face  showed  the  great  agony  he  was  undergoing.  As  the  sharper 
bade  him  good-bye,  he  told  him  that  in  a few  days  he  would  hear 
good  news.  To  say  that  this  information  cheered  him  is  but 
a timely  expression.  Here  conscience,  yes,  an  enlightened  con- 
science, regulated  by  the  inspiration  of  a higher  power,  and  not 
b)^  the  mighty  dollar,  showed  itself  upon  the  heart  and  face  of 
the  man  who  had  caused  so  much  sorrow. 

The  sharper  met  his  confederates  and  reported  the  aboA’e 
facts  to  them  saying,  “ Boys,  we  have  robbed  three  beautiful 
children  of  their  bread,  broken  the  hearts  of  their  mother  and 
father,  and  caused  a fair  home  to  be  broken  up,  and  their  name 
dishonored.  Something  must  be  done  to  make  amends,  or  the 
black  waters  will  flood  our  own  door.”  One  of  them  answered, 
“ You  should  have  been  a preacher.”  “ Yes,”  replied  the  sharper, 
“We  dug  the  pit  for  this  man  and  his  wife’s  feet  to  slip  into, 
and  if  we  don’t  make  good  and  return  this  money,  there  will  be 
a pit  open  to  us  that  our  feet  cannot  escape.” 

The  three  companions  in  crime  took  a journey  about  two 
hundred  miles  off,  went  to  an  express  office,  obtained  a money 
order  for  the  sum  of  $3,100,  and  sent  it  in  an  envelope  to  the  wife 

with  the  following  letter: — “ IMrs.  , Dear  Madam:  No 

doubt  you  will  be  surprised  and  as  we  hope  agreeably  so,  when 
you  receive  this  package  Avith  contents  from  the  three  gold  brick 
men  who  swindled  Amur  husband  out  of  $3,000.  We  return  to 
you  the  money,  Avith  interest,  and  aaosIi  Ave  Avere  able  to  bring 
your  husband  back  to  you  and  your  three  children.  This  act  has 
invalued  consequences  to  us,  AAdiich  we  belieA'e  to  be  more  pain- 
ful than  to  you  and  yours.  To  return  to  you  this  money  is  our 
only  source  of  consolation.  It  says  in  the  Bible  someAA'here. 
“ Vengeance  is  IMine,  I aaoU  repay,  saith  the  Lord.”  There  is  no 
other  remedy  to  quiet  our  conscience.  We  all  hope  that  the  sense 
of  your  husband’s  past  folly,  Avhich  you  both  haAm  felt  so  keenly, 
may  be  forgotten  and  you  again  be  reunited  and  live  happily 
with  your  husband  and  children.  Forgive  us.  and  your  husband 
also,  is  the  desire  of  three  gold  brick  men.  Take  your  husband 
back.”  Upon  receipt  of  this  letter  she  Avent  to  the  hospital  for 
her  husband  and  took  him  back  home  AAuth  her. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


261 


The  authorities  caused  an  investigation  to  be  made,  result- 
ing in  a fight  on  the  fortune  teller  and  the  palmist.  It  was  the 
palmist  who  first  read  the  hand  and  then  buncoed  the  client 
with  a large  glass  globe  which  rested  upon  a table  in  the  parlor 
with  four  tubes  attached,  running  down  through  the  table  legs 
under  the  floor,  along  the  wall  and  up  to  tlie  attic,  where  an- 
other man  is  hidden.  This  man  speaks  through  the  tube,  and 
represents  to  be  the  spirit  of  the  dead  friends  of  those  who 
called  for  information  from  the  spirit  world.  In  one  instance 
an  aged  lady,  whose  son  while  on  the  top  of  a box  car  passing 
under  a bridge  was  struck  on  the  head  and  instantly  killed, 
called  upon  the  palmist  for  information.  She  was  induced  to 
part  with  her  son’s  watch  and  $17.00  in  cash.  This  caused  many 
members  of  the  fraternity  to  leave  St.  Louis  for  new  fields  and 
seek  fresh  victims  to  skin. 

One  man  who  sold  furniture  on  easy  payments  (made  hard) 
advertised  $300.00  worth  for  $5.00  per  month.  He  was  induced 
to  purchase  a brick  for  $6,000.00.  The  trailer  who  assisted  in 
disposing  of  the  brick,  purchased  furniture  from  him  on  the  easy 
payment  plan,  had  paid  over  $200,  and  failing  to  make  another 
payment  when  due  the  furniture  was  taken  from  his  home 
during  his  absence,  thus  leaving  his  wife  and  three  children 
without  a chair  to  sit  upon  or  a bed  to  rest  upon.  The  trailer 
said  he  had  lost  many  thousands  of  dollars  at  gambling,  but 
the  $2,000.00  he  received  as  his  share  from  the  money  received 
from  the  easy  payment  man  made  him  feel  easy  and  even  on  all 
his  hard  luck  gambling.  The  following'  letter  was  sent  to  the 

easy  payment  man:  “Mr.  , Dear  Sir: — We  advise  you 

to  keep  cool ; we  have  only  taken  a small  percentage  of  the 
money  you  have  robbed  your  customers  out  of  by  means  of  the 
easy  payment  plan  (made  hard).  You  can  give  the  gold  brick 
men  spades  and  beat  them,  for  they  only  skin  the  rich  and  the 
‘skinners,’  while  you  rob  poor  men,  women  and  children.  Take 
your  medicine  you  old  robber  and  keep  quiet.”  He  kept  quiet. 

From  earliest  ages  the  love  of  money  has  dominated  the 
actions  of  men.  The  Apostle  Paul  says,  “The  love  of  money  is 
the  root  of  all  evil.”  This  probably  accounts  for  the  gold  brick 
schemes  being  worked  so  extensively  throughout  the  world, 
causing  its  victims  to  commit  suicide  with  poison,  and  often 
the  sound  of  a pistol  rings  out  the  sad  news  of  another  gold 
brick  victim  sending  himself  before  the  court  of  Eternal  Justice, 


263 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


there  to  be  tried  by  the  great  Judge  of  all.  In  this  Court  there 
can  be  no  false  entry,  no  fine  for  contempt  of  Court,  no  bribing 
the  jury,  no  dickering  with  the  Judge,  no  forfeiting  of  bonds,  no 
fleeing  from  justice,  no  immunity  for  turning  King’s  evidence, 
no  attorne)^  to  plead  your  cause. 

One  of  the  greatest  confidence  men  known,  after  making 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars,  died  a pauper.  His  friends 
bought  a cheap  coffin  wherein  to  place  his  remains,  sprinkled  it 
with  a few  flowers,  and  as  the  coarse  bloated  wretches  from 
whom  every  vestige  of  manhood  had  long  since  departed, 
filed  up  for  a farewell  look  upon  the  face  of  their  old  friend 
Bill,  their  baneful  breath  seemed  to  wither  the  flowers.  Perhaps 
a bunch  of  night-shades  twisted  with  thorns  would  have  been 
more  appropriate  for  the  occasion.  One  of  the  gamblers  said 
“stop  the  box.’’  “What  for,”  asked  another  who  had  been  with 
Bill  in  some  of  his  schemes.  “I  will  bet  $500.00  to  $50.00  old 
Bill  is  not  in  the  box,”  was  the  reply.  Another  gambler  said. 
“ double  the  bet  and  I’ll  take  half  of  it.”  One  old  white-haired 
sinner  shwering  with  cold,  with  tears  streaming  down  his 
wrinkled  face  said.  “ boys,  there  goes  my  best  friend ; I have 
known  Bill  many  years.  His  money  has  many  times  kept  him 
from  jail,  but  the  devil  has  got  him  now,  and  all  the  money  in 
the  universe  cannot  keep  him  out  of  hell,  and  Ave  will  all  go  the 
same  way  if  we  do  not  change  our  Ha'cs.  I shall  begin  a new 
life  from  this  moment.”  He  kept  his  word,  and  when  he  died 
a respectable  funeral  was  giA^en  him. 

An  honest  old  farmer  Avho  had  a grocery  store  tried  his 
luck  in  the  wheat  market  and  met  Avith  seA’eral  reverses.  He 
borrowed  money  and  made  an  assignment  to  his  Avife.  The 
general  opinion  Avas  that  he  had  a lot  of  money  laid  aside. 
Tavo  gold  brick  men.  hearing  of  this.  droA'e  out  to  his  farm 
and  at  a chosen  spot  buried  a chunk  of  brass,  and  at  the  same 
time  making  a chart  showing  the  lay  of  the  land  and  so  treated 
as  to  give  it  the  appearance  of  antiquity.  All  preparations  haA’- 
ing  been  carefully  made  the  confidence  men  AA’rote  him  a letter 
Avanting  to  buy  his  farm.  The  farmer  Avrote  back  that  his 
Avife  owned  the  farm  but  AAmuld  sell  it.  The  sharpers  droA'e  to 
the  farm,  looked  it  over  and  remained  OA’er  night.  The  next 
dav  they  diAuilged  Avhat  AA-as  meant  to  be  a great  secret.  They 
pointed  out  to  the  farmer  the  location  on  the  chart  AAdiere  the 
supposed  gold  Avas  to  be  found,  and  he  had  therefore  no  diffi- 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


26.3 


culty  in  finding  the  spot.  "With  a shovel  and  pick  the  treasure 
was  found.  The  glittering  appearance  made  the  farmer  smile, 
and  every  instinct  of  cupidity  was  aroused  within  his  anxious 
mind.  One  of  the  sharpers  proposed  to  buy  the  other  two  out, 
and  after  making  the  proposition  walked  off  to  give  the  other 
sharper  and  the  farmer  an  opportunity  to  talk  the  matter  over. 
The  brick  was  weighed  and  the  value  was  computed  at  $6,000.00. 
This  being  equally  divided  amounted  to  over  $2,000.00  each. 
The  farmer  and  one  of  the  sharpers  bought  the  interest  of  the 
other  sharper  for  $2,000.00.  The  farmer  went  into  the  family 
room  and  brought  out  $1,000.00  in  cash  and  paid  it  over  to  the 
sharper.  The  other  sharper  drew  a check  for  the  same  amount. 
The  farmer  agreed  to  remain  at  home  until  one  of  the  sharpers 
should  return  to  accompany  him  to  V^ashington  City,  where 
they  would  then  go  to  the  U.  S.  Mint  to  get  paper  money  for 
their  brass.  The  journey  was  never  accomplished,  for  the 
reason  that  the  sharpers  divided  the  farmer’s  money,  and  wrote 

him  the  following  letter:  “Dear  Mr.  S : You  old  robber. 

You  failed  in  business,  made  your  property  over  to  your  wife 
Avhen  you  had  plenty  of  money,  and  thus  swindled  your  cred- 
itors. M^e  advise  you  to  take  your  medicine.  You  can  now 
understand  how  those  you  have  swindled  feel.  Skin  your  friends 
out  of  more  cash  and  we  will  plant  another  chunk  of  brass  on 
your  wife’s  farm.  V'ishing  you  a IMerry  Christmas  and  a Happy 
New  Year.  From  your  friends.  Gold  Brick  Swindlers.” 

The  case  above  mentioned  was  of  a man  Avhom  the  neigh- 
bors believed  was  an  honest  man.  The  Golden  Rule  is  not  only 
brushed  aside  by  gold  brick  swindlers,  but  in  every  line  of  busi- 
ness there  is  too  much  craft  (graft)  and  deceit.  The  way 
business  is  carried  on  in  this  age  would  make  gold  brick  swin- 
dlers and  gamblers  blush  with  shame  of  their  ignorance  of  the 
methods  practised  Avhen  compared  with  such  frauds  resorted 
to  bv  those  who  are  believed  to  be  dealing  sciuare  with  the 
public.  “ Shall  I count  them  pure  with  the  wicked  balances,  and 
with  the  wicked  bag  of  deceitful  weights?” — iMicah  vi.  2.  This 
is  caused  by  the  two  equal  evils,  viz.:  the  pernicious  activity  of 
the  vicious  and  the  pernicious  inactivity  of  the  virtuous.  The 
inherent  villainy  of  such  transactions  by  men  who  are  passing 
as  honest  men  recoil  in  disgust,  if  not  in  horror.  The  author 
knows  that  men  of  unblemished  reputation  occupying  high 
positions  in  social,  professional  or  commercial  circles,  some  fill- 


264 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


ing  posts  of  responsible  trust  in  public  life  have  taken  money 
which  constituted  their  agreed  proportion  of  the  money  obtained 
by  fraud  from  the  wretched  dupe, — their  friend. 

Three  men  by  the  name  of  Creek,  Lavin  and  Curtis,  were 
the  only  party  ever  known  to  carry  a genuine  gold  brick  with 
them,  and  which  was  valued  at  $12,000.00.  Another  set  of  gold 
brick  men  learned  of  this,  and  they  forthwith  manufactured  a 
“sucker”  who  bought  the  pure  gold  brick  from  the  Creek  partA* 
for  $3,000.00.  Creek  and  his  party  had  also  a brass  brick  exactly 


Changing  Valises. 


the  same  size  as  the  gold  one;  this  was  used  as  a ringer.  They 
had  two  valises  of  the  same  size  and  color.  The  sharper  Avho 
had  bought  the  genuine  gold  brick  from  the  Creek  party  took 
it  with  him  to  the  hotel.  The  Creek  trailer  went  to  the  same 
hotel  with  his  brass  brick  and  engaged  a room.  The  two  sharp- 
ers entered  into  a conversation.  The  “sucker”  sharper  asked 
the  Creek  trailer  what  Avas  the  best  train  for  him  to  go  home  on. 
The  Creek  trailer  said,  “I  Avill  go  doAvn  and  find  out  for  you.” 
While  he  was  gone  the  “sucker”  sharper  took  the  genuine  gold 
brick  from  his  oAvn  room  and  placed  it  in  the  room  of  the  Creek 
trailer,  exchanging  it  for  the  brass  brick.  When  the  Creek  trailer 
returned  he  told  the  “sucker”  sharper  that  he  had  better  go  him- 
self to  make  certain  of  the  best  train,  as  he  could  not  obtain  sat- 
isfactory information,  but  that  if  he  intended  to  go  to  Chicago 
he  hoped  to  be  allowed  to  accompany  him.  The  “sucker” 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


265 


sharper  then  excused  himself  and  went  to  the  station.  During 
his  absence  the  Creek  trailer  rushed  into  his  room,  took  the 
valise  he  thought  contained  the  brass  brick  into  the  “sucker” 
sharper’s  room,  exchanged  the  valises,  and  took  back  to  his  own 
room  what  he  believed  to  be  the  genuine  gold  brick,  but  what 
was  in  reality  the  brass  one.  He  then  took  advantage  of  the 
earliest  opportunity  to  leave  the  hotel,  taking  the  brass  brick 
along  with  him.  The  “sucker”  sharper  therefore  was  left  with 
the  genuine  gold  brick,  having  made  a profit  of  $9,000.00.  He 
never  returned  again  to  his  own  party.  The  loss  caused  quite 
a disturbance  in  the  Creek,  Lavin  and  Curtis  camp,  as  they  sns- 
picioned  their  trailer  with  standing  in  with  the  “sucker”  sharper. 
But  this  was  not  true. 

This  did  not,  however,  deter  Creek,  Lavin  and  Curtis  to 
abandon  the  business,  for  they  had  another  gold  brick  manu- 
factured, costing  $20,000.00.  They  were  successful  in  selling  it 
to  a real  estate  man,  who  was  known  to  be  a skinner,  for 
$6,000.00.  The  trailer  followed  him  several  hundred  miles  be- 
fore he  got  a chance  to  exchange  valises.  The  trailer  managed 
to  engage  him  in  conversation  in  the  sleeper  on  the  train,  and 
invited  him  into  the  dining-car  to  take  lunch  with  him.  Arriv- 
ing at  the  lunch  table  the  trail'er  excused  himself  to  go  back  to 
the  sleeper  to  get  some  choice  cigars.  Here  he  took  the  oppor- 
tunity to  exchange  the  valises  and  then  hurried  back  to  the 
dining-car,  throwing  down  some  cigars,  saying,  “Try  one  of 
these  I brought  from  Mexico.”  The  man  was  not  aware  at  the 
time  that  the  Mexican  cigars  had  cost  him  over  $6,000.00.  The 
trailer  got  off  at  the  next  station  with  the  $20,000.00  gold  brick, 
while  the  victim  traveled  on  to  his  destination  with  the  $9.00 
brass  brick. 

Retribution  is  sure  to  follow  close  to  the  heels  of  the  evil 
doer,  and  the  case  of  Creek,  Lavin  and  Curtis  was  not  an  excep- 
tion. They  played  the  biggest  stake  ever  played  with  the  gold 
brick  scheme,  by  robbing  an  Englishman  at  Tuscola,  Florida, 
for  $50,000.00.  The  first  play  they  made  netted  them  $10,000.00, 
and  on  the  second  pla}^  they  secured  $40,000.00.  In  getting  away 
with  the  money,  they  ventured  in  a canoe,  capsized,  and  men, 
money  and  all  were  lost.  They  were  never  heard  of  again. 

The  last  case  I will  narrate  is  that  of  a man  who  was  known 
as  a “fence,”  that  is,  a receiver  of  stolen  goods.  Detectives  had 
long  failed  in  any  attempt  to  catch  him.  When  a crook  would 


266 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


bring  in  a watch  or  other  article  of  stolen  jewelr)*,  he  would 
ask,  “How  much  do  you  want  for  this,  six  or  fifty  dollars?  If  I 
want  it  at  that  can  I have  it?”  “Yes,”  would  be  the  answer. 
He  would  then  excuse  himself  and  go  to  the  back  room,  place 
the  article  into  the  crucible,  melt  it,  and  return  to  his  customer 
with  the  money.  He  had  been  in  court  many  times  but  had  been 
discharged  for  lack  of  evidence.  He  finally  sold  out  his  store, 
and  Avent  into  the  auction  business.  In  this  line  of  business  he 
skinned  the  public  so  openly  that  the  authorities  imposed  a 
heavy  license  fee  on  him  and  his  kind.  But  this  only  succeeded 
in  putting  the  smaller  fry  out  of  business.  He  never  employed 
less  than  three  “cappers,”  and  when  an  article  was  to  be  bid 
for,  he  would  start  the  bidding  himself  and  the  “cappers”  would 
follow  suit.  As  soon  as  the  price  was  bid  that  he  Avished  to 
obtain  for  the  article,  he  Avould  knock  it  doAvn  to  the  person 
bidding.  One  day  our  friend  the  ‘Aliner”  Avent  in  Avith  his 
miner  suit  on,  and  bought  a shaA’ing  razor  and  strop.  When  the 
packet  was  brought  him  he  said  to  the  clerk,  “Will  you  let  me 
go  behind  your  place  and  bring  out  some  gold?”  “Certainly.” 
replied  the  clerk.  The  miner  took  from  his  belt  a lump  of  gold 
Avorth  $26.00,  and  said  to  the  clerk,  “Take  it  out  of  that.”  The 
clerk  called  the  governor,  and  the  gOA^ernor  and  miner  Avent  to 
a jeAvelry  store,  had  it  tested  and  AA'eighed,  and  receiA'ed  $22.00 
for  it.  The  jeAveler  made  $4.00  on  the  transaction.  On  the  Avay 
back  to  the  auction  shop  the  governor  asked  the  miner  if  he  had 
any  more  like  that.  “Yes.”  said  the  miner,  “AA'e’s  rich.”  “V  ho 
is  we’s,  haA'e  you  some  one  AA'ith  you?”  “Yes;  my  Indian  friend 
who  is  A^ery  sick,  and  I tell  you  he  has  lots  of  gold.”  “HaA'e 
you  got  it  Avith  you?”  asked  the  auctioneer.  “No,  but  Ave’s  got 
it  near  here,  but  Ave  came  after  a friend  to  help  us  get  paper 
money  for  our  gold.”  “What  is  the  matter  Avith  me?”  asked 
the  auctioneer.  “Is  you  honest,  can  you  get  the  paper  money?” 
asked  the  miner  in  return.  “Yes.  I can  get  a Avagon  load;  see 
my  big  shop?  and  I have  thousands  of  paper  money  in  the 
bank.”  “V'ell,”  said  the  miner.  “Avill  you  be  here  in  your  shop 
in  three  days?”  “Yes,”  replied  the  auctioneer,  “but  I Avant  to 
have  a talk  Avith  you  ; come  Avith  me  and  Ave  Avill  have  a drink.” 
“No.”  objected  the  miner,  “I  don’t  drink;  it  ruined  my  father 
and  brother.  The  men  Avho  sell  it  might  give  me  sleepy 
Avater.”  “Well,  come.  Ave  Avill  have  lunch.”  said  the  auctioneer. 
Vdiile  at  lunch  the  auctioneer  gave  the  miner  his  home  ad- 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


367 


dress,  and  asked  him  to  take  supper  there  with  him.  After 
snpper,  the  miner  asked  if  he  could  have  a room  to  himself 
for  a few  minutes.  This  request  was  readily  granted.  When 
the  miner  came  out  he  handed  a lump  of  gold  valued  at  $8.00  to 
the  auctioneer’s  wife,  saying,  “ take  this  from  me  and  my  poor 
sick  Indian  friend.”  When  the  miner  left  he  asked  the  auc- 
tioneer to  take  care  of  his  shaving  outfit,  as  he  was  going  to 
try  to  find  his  friend,  who  would  give  him  paper  money  for  his 
gold.  The  miner  returned  to  the  residence  of  the  auctioneer 
on  the  second  day  much  disheartened  because  he  had  not  been 
successful  in  finding  his  friend.  The  auctioneer  and  miner 
started  for  Kansas  City  the  next  day.  A test  of  the  gold  was 
made  and  the  auctioneer  bought  three  bricks,  paying  $8,000.00 
for  them. 

The  trailer  had  gone  on  the  same  train  and  taken  a suit  of 
clothes  for  the  miner.  A letter  reached  the  home  of  the  auc- 
tioneer almost  as  soon  as  himself.  It  was  as  follows : — “ Dear 
Sir : Go  and  soak  your  head.  A man  who  has  skinned  as  many 
as  you  have  and  gets  caught  by  an  ignorant  old  miner,  should 
sneak  off  and  hide.  Hurry  up  and  skin  the  people  in  the 
auction  business  and  we  will  let  you  have  three  more  bricks 
at  the  same  price.  Believe  us  3^our  friends.  Gold  Brick  Men.” 

Onh^  about  ten  per  cent  who  are  caught  on  the  gold  brick 
scheme  make  their  losses  known  to  the  public.  They  are  re- 
strained by  a sense  of  shame  to  unfold  the  full  depths  of  their 
ignorance,  knowing  they  will  command  no  sympathy  from  those 
who  know  them,  as  the  game  is  usually  played  upon  men  who 
justly  bear  the  reputation  of  skinners,  greedy,  credulous,  covet- 
ous, shrewd  and  cunning  manipulators.  The  most  essential 
thing  is  to  know  that  the  proposed  victims  have  the  cash  in  the 
bank,  as  it  is  unwise  to  play  for  men  who  may  find  it  necessary 
to  ask  accommodation  at  the  bank,  inasmuch  as  it  might  result 
in  the  institution  and  prosecution  of  numberless  questions  by  the 
bank  officials.  The  way  the  sharpers  obtain  information  of 
moneyed  men  is  through  business  men  who  are  promised  a per- 
centage of  the  dishonest  gains  should  the  fraud  be  successfully 
consummated  by  the  gold  brick  swindlers.  They  care  little 
about  what  people  think  or  say  regarding  their  hope  for  a future 
world,  but  Avill  quickly  assert  themselves  when  present  posses- 
sions are  in  an\"  degree  endangered. 

Friendships  are  more  easily  broken  through  matters  of 


368 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


money  than  anything  else;  the  most  sensitive  part  of  most  men 
is  their  pocket-book.  This  question  is  not  local  but  international. 

CONSCIENCE!  CONSCIENCE!!  CONSCIENCE!!! 

It  is  true  some  men  seem  to  have  no  conscience,  beyond 
some  educated  habit,  and  they  will,  I fear,  learn  too  late  that 
God  is  the  Supreme  Judge,  and  Justice  hath  her  balance. 

To  speak  of  earthquakes,  cyclones,  tornadoes,  floods,  shoot- 
ing, stealing,  lying,  swearing,  drinking,  gambling,  sheriffs,  jails, 
electric  chairs,  the  scaffold  and  the  hangman,  wars  and  rumors 
of  wars,  etc.,  are  nothing  to  be  compared  with  the  stinging  re- 
proach of  conscience.  It  never  lies;  it  is  judge,  jury  and  wit- 
ness. The  verdict  is  always  right;  no  hung  jury,  no  false 
swearing,  no  alibi.  There  is  but  one  remedy  that  will  quiet  it, 
and  that  is  to  be  just  in  the  sight  of  God  and  our  fellow  men. 


CHINA. 

B}^  way  of  dealing  with  the  gambling  evil  in  the  province  of 
Canton,  the  Chinese  Government  has  adopted  summary  meas- 
ures, such  as  V'estern  folk  can  with  difficulty  understand.  ]\Ir. 
Sherwood  Eddy,  who  was  in  Canton  during  the  week  when  the 
edict  of  suppression  came  into  force,  writes : “Although  three- 
fourths  of  the  revenue  of  the  entire  Canton  province  came  from 
gambling  dens,  the  new  viceroy  perceived  that  it  was  ruining 
the  people.  He  issued  a proclamation  stating  that  gambling 
had  gone  through  his  people  like  fire  and  flood.  He  substituted 
other  taxes  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  province,  and  on  March  29, 
the  first  day  of  the  third  moon  in  the  Chinese  calendar,  all  gam- 
bling-houses were  closed  and  their  signs  removed!  A hundred 
thousand  people  assembled  on  the  bund  to  watch  the  great 
procession,  to  qelebrate  with  rejoicing  this  bold  innovation,  and 
to  create  sentiment  in  faA'or  of  the  prohibition  of  gambling. 
Floats  carried  on  the  shoulders  of  men  represented  in  pic- 
turesque drama  the  ravaging  effects  of  gambling.  The  figures 
of  twelve  great  dragons  were  carried,  some  of  which  took  30 
men  to  bear.  It  was  a picturesque  sight,  and  took  over  two 
hours  to  pass. — London  Christian. 


NEW  YORK:  THE  PARADISE  OF  GAMBLERS. 


It  has  been  claimed  that  New  York,  the  great  American 
metropolis,  is  the  very  paradise  of  gamblers.  ’ This  assertion 
will  not  be  disputed  by  members  of  the  fraternity.  The  carping 
critics  declare  that  there  is  scarcely  a street  without  its  gam- 
bling resort,  all  private,  of  course,  yet  the  location  of  which  is 
well  known  to  those  who  indulge  in  that  excitement. 

The  favorite  game  played  in  the  city  is  faro,  and  the  stakes 
vary  according  to  the  class  to  which  the  house  caters.  In  some 
of  the  lowest  hells  a stake  of  five  cents  is  not  despised.  In  re- 
cent years  roulette  has  also  become  quite  popular.  The  ma- 
jor! t}^  of  roulette  tables,  however,  is  to  be  found  in  the  clubs 
of  the  aristocrats,  and  many  a man  has  fallen  from  that  high  (?) 
estate  by  means  of  the  roulette. 

In  the  cheap  eating  houses  that  abound  in  or  near  Broadway, 
from  Spring  Street  north  to  Tenth  Street,  are  to  be  found  the 
shabby-genteel  men  who  bear  unmistakable  evidence  in  their 
speech,  manner  and  appearance,  of  long  continued,  and  generally 
disastrous  “ fighting  with  the  tiger.”  These  are  the  canaille  of 
gamblers,  who  hang  precariously  on  the  edge  of  a terrible  fas- 
cination, and  manage  to  supply  the  necessities  of  life  in  a cheap 
way,  from  chance  success  in  small  bets  and  by  a few  dollars 
picked  up  by  guiding  more  profitable  customers  to  the  houses 
where  they  are  known.  Strictly  speaking,  there  are  more 
“cappers”  than  gamblers.  Their  right  to  the  proud  title  of 
“sporting  men”  is  stoutly  denied  them  by  their  more  prosperous 
and  reputable  brethren  of  the  green  cloth.  They  are  usually  the 
most  improvident  and  unscrupulous  beings  in  existence.  Every 
house  has  several  of  these  forlorn  attaches,  who  play  when 
they  have  money,  and  introduce  a desirable  stranger  when  they 
can ; who  are  constant  in  their  attendance  upon  the  banquets 
that  are  daily  spread  in  these  houses,  but  are  thus  obliged  to 
take  the  chances  as  to  lodgings,  and  raiment.  When  they  have 
worn  threadbare  the  hospitality  of  the  gaming  house  keeper  (as 
sometimes  happens),  they  subsist — God  and  themselves  alone 
know  how. 

The  aspect  of  another  class  of  gamblers  who  are  to  be  found 
on  any  fine  afternoon  decorating  Broadway  with  the  splendor 

269 


270 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


of  their  apparel,  is  far  different  from  those  just  mentioned,  for 
they  are  unexcelled  in  elegance  of  attire.  If  , you  meet  in  Broad- 
way a man  who  lounges  listlessly  onward  as  though  he  had  no 
well-defined  object  in  life,  and  whose  garments  are  cut  in  the 
latest  style  and  of  the  finest  material,  you  may  assure  yourself 
that  he  is  a gambler  in  good  luck,  provided  his  silk  hat  is  in 
the  highest  possible  state  of  polish  and  his  watch  chain  unusu- 
ally massive.  Gamblers  of  this  type  are  usually  men  of  intelli- 
gence far  above  the  aA'^erage,  and  among  the  hundreds  of  men 
eminent  in  science,  literature  and  art  who  flock  to  the  high- 
toned  hells  of  New  York,  it  is  no  easy  task  to  find  greater  bril- 
liancy of  wit,  higher  polish  of  deportment,  or  more  geniality  of 
manner  than  are  exhibited  by  the  dealers  at  first-class  metro- 
politan gaming  houses. 

In  the  Bowery  may  be  found  professionals  of  a very  differ- 
ent class ; brazen-faced  men,  with  bristly  mustaches  and  hair 
closely  cropped  like  a convict,  with  apparel  obstrusively  gaudy 
and  loaded  with  jewelr}"  apparently  of  gold  and  precious  stones. 
These  are  men  to  be  avoided  as  the  sharks  which  their  appear- 
ance and  their  every  act  proclaim  them  to  be.  They  are  the 
proprietors  of,  or  “steerers”  for  the  third-rate  dens,  where  a 
“ square  ” game  is  never  played,  even  by  accident.  Honest  labor 
they  abhor  and  despise.  Any  man,  they  say,  can  make  a living 
by  work,  but  it  requires  a smart  man  to  get  it  without.  In  view 
of  their  uncouth,  repulsive  appearance  and  address  it  is  sur- 
prising they  are  as  successful  as  they  are  in  enticing  strangers 
into  the  wretched  holes  where  they  can  be  fleeced. 

These  strangers,  thus  inveigled,  come  under  the  name  of 
“ occasional  players,”  and  are  the  vivification  of  all  gambling, 
whether  guided  by  the  better  class  of  ropers  into  gilded  resorts, 
or  by  these  vampires  into  the  lower  cribs.  So  long  as  one  sport- 
ing man  may  win  from  or  loses  to  another,  no  apparent  harm 
is  done  to  the  community  at  large,  but  no  good  is  done  the  gam- 
blers.  It  is  not  singular,  that  the  novice  is  so  apt  to  try  his  luck 
when  he  has  once  been  induced  to  enter  the  gambling  house. 

The  gambling  house  is  made  yet  more  alluring  by  its  sur- 
roundings. Nowhere  has  sumptuous  elegance  been  attained  in 
such  perfection  as  in  the  first-class  gambling  saloons  of  New 
York.  Generally  each  has  a suite  of  rooms,  the  largest  of  which 
is  devoted  to  faro,  with  perhaps  a roulette  Avheel  in  one  corner, 
while  others  are  sacred  to  short  card  games,  and  one  is  always 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


271 


exclusively  used  as  a banqueting  hall.  All  are  furnished  without 
regard  to  cost,  but  there  is  never  anything  in  any  one  of  them 
to  offend  the  most  fastidious  taste,  although  there  may  be  some- 
times a grim  humor  in  some  of  the  decorations,  as  is  the  case  in 
one  house  where  a magnificent  oil  painting  of  a tiger  is  sus- 
pended from  the  wall  immediately  over  the  table,  so  that  none 
of  the  players  can  look  up  without  meeting  the  glaring  eye  of 
the  beast,  which  is  held  to  be  the  presiding  deity  of  the  game. 
Take  that  away  and  the  visitor  would  imagine  himself  in  the 
private  parlors  of  a gentleman  whose  great  wealth  was  fortu- 


Wall  Street.  (,l)  The  Fray. 


nately  equalled  by  his  refined  taste.  This  delusion  would  be 
strengthened  by  a seat  at  the  banquet,  where  the  viands  are  of 
all  possible  varieties,  and  the  best  quality,  and  are  served  with 
a finished  elegance  in  the  plate  and  all  table  appointments,  in- 
cluding the  waiters,  which  are  not  exceeded  even  in  the  most 
select  private  houses.  Liquors  of  an  excellent  quality  are  usually 
served.  No  sight  is  rarer  in  a first-class  gaming  house  than  to 
see  a man  maudlin  drunk.  An  intoxicated  man  is  never  allowed 
to  profane  the  place.  If  he  appears  in  the  person  of  a valuable 
patron,  he  is  quietly  led  away,  to  be  put  to  bed  in  some  remote 
room : but  if  he  comes  as  an  unknown  casual  he  is  put  into  the 
street  Avith  little  ceremony  but  without  Adolence. 

These  statements,  howeA'er,  apply  oidy  to  the  first-class  and . 


272 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


most  prosperous  establishments.  The  places  next  in  order  ape 
them  in  everything,  but  are  far  below  them  in  all.  A second- 
class  house  has  sometimes  more  glitter  than  its  rival,  but  it  is 
easy  to  see  that  it  is  pinchbeck  grandeur.  The  refined  taste  in 
decorating  and  furnishing  is  also  lacking.  The  suppers  and 
liquors,  however,  most  plainly  proclaim  the  lower  caste  of  the 
place.  While  the  variety  of  both  is  abundant,  the  first  are  ex- 
ecrably cooked  and  served,  and  the  quality  of  the  latter  would 
not  be  strange  to  the  most  experienced  patron  of  the  ordinary 
Bowery  saloons,  which  are  proverbial  for  furnishing  every 
kind  of  beverage  except  good. 

But  if  the  second  grade  houses  are  bad  in  this  respect,  there 
are  some  below  them  which  are  much  worse.  If  a man  can  di- 
gest the  so-called  “game  suppers,”  and  survive  any  consider- 
able drinking  of  the  liquids  which  are  offered  as  pure  whiske}'’ 
and  brandy  in  the  lowest  classes  of  faro  houses,  he  ought  to 
be  able  to  insure  his  life  on  the  most  favorable  terms,  and  the 
appointment  of  these  houses  are  in  keeping  with  their  enter- 
tainment. They  are  repulsively  suggestive  of  squalor  and  un- 
prosperous  vice ; and  if  by  any  chance  a gentleman  enters,  he 
leaves  at  once,  to  lose  his  money  under  more  elegant,  or  at  least 
cleaner,  auspices. 

Periodical  raids  are  made — for  more  purposes  than  one. 
The  raid  which  made  John  Dah'  move,  and  which  produced  so 
great  a stringency  in  the  chip  market  for  the  time  being,  started 
at  No.  1 Ann  Street.  It  is  rarely  that  an  eye-witness  describes, 
from  the  inside,  an  official  descent  on  a gambling  house.  There 
are  generally  too  many  personal  reasons  for  silence.  Here  is 
a description  by  a player  at  the  time  of  that  famous  raid.  It 
might  also  serve  as  a good  description  of  almost  any  raid  on 
New  York  games: 

“I  had  just  ‘coppered’  $5.00  on  the  queen  to  the  intense  dis- 
gust, of  a half  dozen  fellows  who  were  playing  her  to  win,  when 
the  negro  who  kept  door  came  bounding  i:pstairs,  three  steps 
at  a time,  fairly  pale  in  the  face,  and  whispered  to  the  pro- 
prietor: ‘ Boss,  there’s  some  men  at  the  door  that  won’t  go  away, 
and  say  they’ll  break  the  door  down  if  I don’t  let  ’em  in,’ 

“ ‘Quick !’  answered  the  proprietor,  ‘open  the  door  and  ask 
’em  to  step  right  up.’  The  words  Avere  not  out  of  his  mouth 
before  he  had  slipped  the  bank  roll  into  the  safe,  gathered  all 
visible  chips  of  the  banks,  and  asked  all  the  players  to  gather  up 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


373 


theirs,  stuck  the  chips  into  the  safe  and  locked  the  safe  door, 
saying,  ‘Boys,  put  your  chips  in  your  pockets  and  come  around 
this  afternoon  and  I’ll  cash  ’em  for  you.’  In  a flash  all  evidence 
of  present  gaming  were  wiped  out.  There  were  only  a couple  of 
tables,  a dozen  or  so  players,  the  proprietor,  smiling  blandly, 
and — a policeman  in  sight. 

“In  less  time  than  it  takes  to  tell  all  this  the  still  shivering 
door-keeper  had  ushered  in  three  ‘plain  clothes’  men  from  head- 
quarters. At  the  same  time  the  police  officer,  in  full  uniform, 
who  was  already  in  the  room — and  who  had  been  playing  with 
the  rest  of  us,  mind  you — edged  towards  the  door  so  as  to  seem 
to  haim  come  in  with  and  after  the  raiding  officers.  He  was  the 
worst  frightened  man  in  the  crowd.  But,  with  quite  remarkable 
presence  of  mind,  considering  the  strain  on  him,  the  officer  in 
uniform  stepped  promptly  back  in  the  foreground,  with  a pitying 
smile  on  his  face,  and  seizing  the  beard  of  the  proprietor  of  the 
game,  said  to  the  raiding  officers,  who  looked  as  if  they  wondered 
where  he  had  come  from : ‘ Gentlemen,  this  Mr.  Bud  Kirby  ’— 

“ ‘And  sorry  I am,  gentlemen,’  ‘ Bud  ’ interrupted,  with 
a bow  and  a smile,  ‘to  make  your  acquaintance  under  such  un- 
favorable circumstances!  What  will  you  have  to  drink?’ 

“You  could  have  knocked  me  down  with  a feather.  ‘This 
then,’  thought  I,  as  all  hands  stepped  up  to  the  sideboard  and 
took  a friendly  drink;  ‘this  then,  is  one  of  those  terrible  raids 
we  read  so  much  about !’ 

“ The  players,  .fortunately  for  me,  were  not  molested  in  the 
least.  They  melted  away  into  the  early  morning  gloom,  it  was 
then  about  two  o’clock,  and  the  officers  who  carted  away  the 
cards,  the  faro  la3''outs  and  the  roulette  wheel,  melted  away 
to  headquarters  and  made  their  report,  and  that  afternoon  we  all 
went  back  and  Kirby  cashed  our  chips— of  course  he  knew 
just  about  how  many  were  out — and  ever3dhing  was  lovel3^ 
No  officer  thought  of  touching  the  safe  which  contained  the 
‘roll,’  the  onh^  thing  of  any  great  value  about  the  establishment, 
and  nobody  sufifered  any  great  loss  or  discomfort.  But  there 
wasn’t  any  more  dealing  there  for  a great  many  months.  And 
mavbe  the  officer  in  uniform,  who  was  pla3dng  there  in  blissful 
ignorance  that  a raid  was  to  be  made,  didn’t  catch  it  from  Kirb3" 
for  not  giving  him  ivarning !’’ 

What  does  protection  cost  a gambler?  About  the  time  of 
the  afore-mentioned  raid,  a New  York  business  man — whose 

18 


274 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


name  may  be  put  down  as  Allan  Allriver,  being  not  altogether 
unlike  the  same — was  approached  on  Twenty-eighth  street  by 
a professional  gambler  of  his  acquaintance  who  had  paraded 
Broadway  and  hung  about  the  corners  until  he  was  almost  on 
his  uppers.  “Look  here,  Mr.  Allriver,”  said  the  gambler,  “Let’s 
you  and  I open  a gambling  house.  I know  of  a good  ranch 
on  this  very  street  that  Ave  can  rent  cheap,  and  if  3mu’ll  furnish 
the  roll  and  let  me  run  the  game  we’ll  both  make  a barrel  of 
mone^'.” 

“That’s  all  right,”  answered  Allriver,  “but  what’s  to  prevent 
us  from  being  pulled  the  ver\'  first  night?” 

“I'A'e  inciuired  into  that,”  replied  the  gambler,  “and  am 
assured  on  high  authority  that  we  will  be  guaranteed  police 
protection  for  exactly  $25.00  a week.  The  usual  price  is  from 
$25.00  up  to  $100.00;  we  are  getting  off  cheap.” 

Mr.  Allriver  is  still  thinking  about  this  ofifer  and  the  re- 
markable statement  with  it.  There  is  thought  for  food  in  it  for 
the  taxpayers.  But  the  charge  that  police  officials  are  bribed 
bv  gamblers  is — as  the  old  English  Judge  said  about  the  charge 
of  assault  on  women — “most  eas\"  to  make  and  most  difficult 
to  disprove.’’  It  has  the  advantage,  however,  of  being  even 
more  difficult  to  prove. 

.Suppose  a police  captain  or  lieutenant  were  paid  $25.00  a 
week  by  the  proprietor  of  a gambling  house  for  protection  or 
advance  notice  of  raids,  no  papers,  or  writing,  or  receipt,  or 
voucher  of  any  kind  Avill  pass  between  them.  The  proprietor 
and  the  police  officer  will  not  meet,  nor  Avill  they  be  seen  or 
known  to  communicate  Avith  others  in  any  Avay  except  through 
trusted  intermediaries.  Through  them,  one  representing  the 
“sports”  and  the  other  the  “boss  cops,”  the  agreement  Avill  be 
made  and  the  money  Avill  be  paid.  They  may  meet  each  other 
and  slide  a ‘Svad”  from  fist  to  fist  as  the_A"  shake  hands  on  Broad- 
Avay  of  a fine  afternoon,  or  they  may  do  their  business  OA'er  a 
friendly  glass  of  beer  at  a Sixth  Avenue  saloon  table  about 
2 a.  m.  If  either  of  these  agents  tries  to  “squeal.”  his  prin- 
cipal promptly  denounces  and  disavoAvs  all  knoAvledge  of  him. 
Then  Avho  is  believed,  the  poor.  unknoAvn.  characterless  “go- 
betAveen”  or  the  “reputable  business  man”  and  “faithful  police 
official  ?’’ 

The  elaborate  system  of  bolts,  bars,  chains,  double-doors, 
and  the  like,  Avhich  confronts  one — either  stranger  in  search  of 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


sport,  or  officer  in  search  of  prey — at  the  entrance  of  an  estab- 
lished gambling  house  is  not  intended  as  a direct  barrier  to 
the  admission  of  those  in  authority.  Unauthorized  raiders 
are  of  course  kept  out  by  this  means.  But  no  proprietor 
of  a gambling  house  in  New  York  would  dare  to  maintain 
that  system  of  defense  in  the  face  of  known  police  or  detec- 
tive authority.  It  would  “ get  the  force  on  him  ” forever. 
When  an  opening  is  demanded  “ in  the  name  of  the  law,” 
the  bolts  are  shot  back,  the  chains  loosened,  and  the  big 
nail-studded  doors  unlocked.  But  all  this  undoing,  and  un- 
loosening and  unfastening  takes  so  much  time  that  the  proprie- 
tor has  had  an  opportunity  before  the  police  get  into  the  “ hell  ” 
itself  to  put  away  that  which  he  wishes  to  conceal,  and  to  put  it 
away  so  securely  that  all  the  police  in  town  couldn’t  find  it  un- 
less they  tore  down  the  walls  and  pulled  up  the  flooring.  It 
is  quite  useless  to  say  that  the  players,  if  they  choose,  may 
also  utilize  this  interval  by  escaping  over  the  roof  or  down  the 
back  stairs.  That  some  of  the  New  York  gambling  houses  are, 
or  have  been,  directly  connected  with  Police  Headquarters  by 
means  of  a private  wire,  or  at  least  with  the  nearest  station 
house  from  which  a raid  would  be  most  likely  to  be  made,  is 
firmly  believed  by  some  sporting  men.  But  how  prove  it?  Cer- 
tain it  is  that  there  are  no  “slicker”  citizens  nor  more  artful 
dodgers,  than  are  the  professional  gamblers. 

Numerous  pool-rooms  have  also  existed  in  the  city  of  New 
York.  A man  named  Allen  owned  the  largest  number  ever 
known  for  one  individual  to  own  at  one  time.  When  the 
Anti-gambling  bill  was  before  the  State  Legislature,  at  the 
time  when  Governor  Hughes  held  the  reins  of  office,  it  is  said 
that  he  disbursed  about  $560,000  in  buying  up  members  of  the 
Legislature.  He  gave  $10,000  to  one  of  the  members  to  spend 
in  his  interest,  that  interest  of  course  being  to  defeat  the  meas- 
ure, but  he  learned  that  instead  of  using  it  in  the  manner  di- 
rected, he  placed  it  in  his  own  pocket  and  for  his  own  use.  Allen 
then  invited  the  member  to  meet  him  at  a hotel,  whereupon  he 
drew  a pistol  and  compelled  the  dishonest  member  to  hand  back 
the  $10,000. 

The  bill  was  designed  to  break  up  the  great  gambling  trust. 
The  day  before  the  bill  came  before  the  house  Mr.  Belmont, 
the  great  race-horse  man  died.  A^d^en  the  bill  was  presented 
the  vote  stood  25  to  25.  As  one  of  the  members  had  died  a new 


276 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


one  was  to  be  elected.  Governor  Hughes  went  out  on  the 
stump  and  helped  to  elect  the  new  member,  who  was  known  to 
be  favorable  to  the  bill.  This  aroused  the  ire  of  the  opposition 
to  the  measure,  and  they  consequently  tried  to  kidnap  the  new 
member  and  so  prevent  him  from  casting  his  vote.  This  they 
did  not  succeed  in  accomplishing  as  he  was  sick  at  the  time, 
but  two  doctors  accompanied  him  in  a carriage  to  the  Legisla- 


Wall  Street.  (2)  The  Struggle  for  Humanitj'. 


tive  Hall ; where  he  cast  his  vote  for  the  bill,  thus  causing  it  to 
pass  by  the  majority  of  one. 

This  broke  the  back  of  the  race-track  trust,  taking  from 
them  many  thousands  of  dollars.  The  reader  will  understand 
more  clearly  the  effect  it  had  upon  the  sporting  fraternity  Avhen 
some  interesting  figures  concerning  Coney  Island  race-track  are 
given.  One  hundred  and  fifty  bookmakers  paid  S125  per  day 
for  the  privilege  of  making  books ; from  60.000  to  125,000  peo- 
ple visited  the  race-track  each  day,  each  paying  one  dollar  ad- 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


2717 


mission  fee ; from  10,000  to  20,000  people  were  admitted  to  the 
grand  stand  at  $2.00  each. 

What  was  known  as  the  Dowling  law,  which  allowed  pools 
to  be  sold  inside  of  the  fence,  had  no  penalty  attached  to  it; 
but  if  a person  was  found  selling  pools  outside  the  track  en- 
closure, he  was  considered  worse  than  a robber  and  was  locked 
up  in  jail  and  fined. 

William  Randolph  Hearst  headed  a deputation  of  about  150 
ministers  and  representative  business  men,  who  went  to  Albany 
in  the  interest  of  the  Anti-gambling  bill.  This  move  caused 
much  public  sentiment  and  aroused  many  to  action. 

Shortly  after  the  passing  of  the  bill  Allen  was  afflicted  with 
a deadly  disease.  1 made  several  efforts  to  interview  him,  and 
finally  succeeded  on  the  fourteenth  effort.  I inquired  into  his 
spiritual  condition,  and  he  consented  for  me  to  pray  with  him. 
Lie  invited  me  to  call  and  see  him  again.  I talked  and  prayed 
with  him  and  finally  he  expressed  himself  of  having  found  the 
Light  and  that  he  would  live  a Christian  life  henceforth. 

On  the  occasion  of  my  next  visit  I was  accompanied  by 
the  Rev.  Robert  Bagnell,  D.  D.,  and  Police  Commissioner  Morse. 
After  a season  of  prayer  Mr.  Allen  began  telling  us  of  graft 
money,  and  pointing  his  finger  at  Mr.  Morse,  said,  “I  have  spent 
thousands  of  dollars  with  the  police  officials  of  New  York  City, 
but  there  is  the  only  man  I could  not  buy.”  What  a high  honor 
conferred  upon  Mr.  Morse  by  a man  who  was  in  a critical  condi- 
tion and  not  expected  to  live,  and  not  knowing  when  the  Great 
Judge  should  call  him  into  His  Presence. 

Unfortunately,  the  penalties  imposed  upon  gamblers  are  not 
nearly  sufficient.  This  is  one  reason  why  the  fraternity  does 
such  a thriving  business  and  treats  the  law  with  impunity.  If 
the  penalty  for  attempting  to  beat  a man  out  of  his  money  was 
made  a penitentiary  offense  there  would  be  less  crime  in  this 
respect.  I will  give  but  one  instance. 

When  AVilliam  Travis  Jerome  was  prosecuting  attorney  for 
New  York  City,  it  was  reported  that  young  Hostettor,  of  Pitts- 
burgh, lost  half  a million  dollars  in  Dick  Canfield’s  gambling 
house.  It  was  also  alleged  that  young  Vanderbilt  was  wanted 
in  the  case,  but  that  he  kept  out  of  the  way  of  Mr.  Jerome  until 
he  was  excused  from  the  case  by  the  statute  of  limitation.  It 
was  also  stated  that  young  Hostettor  died  soon  after  losing  his 
money.  It  so  cut  him  up  that  it  broke  his  heart.  Dick  Canfield 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


2^'8 

was  brought  into  court  and  fined  $1,000  for  this  transaction,  the 
amount  of  the  fine  no  doubt  being  the  limit  the  law  exacted. 
Canfield  would  probably  not  mind  another  $1,000  fine  if  it 
brought  him  another  half  a million  dollars  into  his  coffers.  Let 
the  gambler  once  understand  that  fines  will  not  obtain  any 
longer  but  that  the  penalty  will  be  a term  in  prison  with  hard 
labor,  and  I venture  to  predict  that  there  will  be  less  gambling 
practised,  little  or  no  graft,  and  certain  there  will  be  no  killing 
caused  through  this  demoralizing  vice. 

One  of  the  most  sensational  murders  ever  committed  in  the 
city  of  New  York  was  on  July  16,  1912,  when  Herman  Rosenthal, 
a noted  gambler,  was  shot  to  death  in  the  glare  of  the  lights  of 
the  Hotel  Metropole.  His  murderers  came  to  the  scene  and  es- 
caped in  a high-powered  automobile,  which  easily  out-distanced 
the  taxicabs  pressed  into  service  by  the  police. 

It  is  said  that  Rosenthal  was  recognized  as  the  agent  of 
certain  influential  politicians ; that  he  had  “talked  too  much,” 
and  had  therefore  been  ordered  out  of  town  by  his  patron  a few 
days  previous. 

One  of  the  four  shots  fired  at  him  struck  him  on  the  bridge 
of  the  nose,  crashing  into  the  brain.  As  he  was  talking  with  a 
man  on  Eorty-third  Street,  a big  touring  car  drove  up  and  three 
men  alighted  from  it.  The  first  man  out  fired  the  first  shot  which 
caused  Rosenthal’s  death.  In  a less  space  of  time  than  it  takes 
to  tell,  the  occupants  of  the  car  resumed  their  places  and  they 
went  speeding  on  their  way.  Several  prominent  gamblers  were 
soon  on  the  scene. 

It  Avas  rumored  that  Rosenthal  had  received  Avarning  that 
he  had  been  marked  for  death,  and  that  his  Avife  had  tried  to 
influence  him  to  leaA^e  tOAvn. 

It  Avas  charged  that  the  police  Avere  “sore”  because  Rosen- 
thal had  declared  that  Lieut.  Becker,  one  of  their  number,  had 
“cut  in”  on  his  gambling  house  and  demanded  a 20  per  cent  rake- 
off.  The}^  also  condemned  Rosenthal  for  his  declaration  that 
organized  protection  AA’as  again  the  rule  in  the  police  depart- 
ment. The  gamblers  had  turned  against  Rosenthal  because  he 
had  “squealed.” 

Rosenthal,  following  the  raiding  of  his  gambling  house  by 
the  police  about  a Aveek  before  he  met  his  death,  charged  police 
officers  had  “oppressed”  him.  He  said  Police  Inspector  Hayes. 
Capt.  William  Daly  and  Lieut.  Becker  had  demanded  tribute 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


379 


from  him  for  allowing  him  to  run  his  place.  He  also  declared 
“men  higher  up”  received  tribute  from  hundreds  of  New  York 
gamblers  in  return  for  “protection.” 

Rosenthal’s  charges  aroused  the  heads  of  the  police  depart- 
ment. Commissioner  Waldo  and  District  Attorney  Whitman 
cut  short  their  vacations  to  investigate.  They  placed  no  cre- 
dence in  the  gambler’s  story.  It  was  the  general  impression  that 
Rosenthal  would  be  quickly  sat  upon  as  a “cheap  squealer.” 

Waldo  at  once  issued  a statement  to  the  effect  that  Rosen- 
thal’s charges  were  utterly  false.  “ The  lid  has  never  been  on 
so  tightly  as  now,”  Waldo  declared  in  a letter  to  Whitman. 
Waldo,  however,  asked  a thorough  investigation  by  Whitman 
of  Rosenthal’s  allegations. 

It  is  now  a matter  of  history  how  thoroughly  AVhitman 
carried  out  the  investigation.  This  crime  being  committed 
in  the  most  outrageous  manner  possible,  it  was  whispered 
among  many  good  people  that  M^hitman  would  not  be  suc- 
cessful in  bringing  the  murderer  to  account.  It  was  also  the 
general  impression  that  it  would  soon  blow  over  and  nothing 
more  be  heard  of  it.  But  they  reckoned  without  their  man.  If  it 
were  possible  to  elect  only  half  the  number  of  District  Attorneys 
in  this  country  that  possessed  the  same  amount  of  courage  and 
tenacity  of  purpose  that  Whitman  showed  at  this  time  and  until 
the  close  of  the  trial  when  Lieut.  Charles  Becker  was  convicted 
of  being  the  chief  instigator  of  the  awful  crime,  I venture  to 
say,  there  would  be  less  general  talk  of  graft,  less  crime,  more 
efficient  service  rendered  by  the  elected  officials  and  police  de- 
partment, and  more  confidence  would  be  placed  in  the  adminis- 
trations. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  burden  the  reader  with  the  details  that 
occupied  the  attention  of  the  authorities  preliminary  to  the  trial, 
except  to  extend  credit  to  them  for  the  successful  method  in 
which  they  worked.  At  one  time  it  looked  as  though  the  link 
Avhich  would  fasten  the  crime  upon  the  real  perpetrator  was 
broken,  when  Jack  Zelig,  one  of  the  “gun-men,”  who  had  given 
evidence,  and  was  to  be  one  of  the  chief  witnesses  for  the  prose- 
cution, was  murdered.  At  his  funeral  “gun-men”  were  present 
to  prevent  anyone  securing  photographs  of  the  scene.  M^ere 
the  police  entirely  poAverless  at  this  time,  or  must  we  come  to 
the  conclusion  that  the  metropolis  of  the  United  States  of 
America  was  at  the  mercy  of  a band  of  cut-throats  and  murder- 


280 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


ers?  Ear  better  to  have  an  open  war  with  our  natural  enemies 
than  to  have  our  citizens  fear  and  dread  to  walk  the  streets  of 
New  York  on  account  of  the  probability  of  being  molested,  and 
perhaps  murdered. 

The  Cleveland  Plain  Dealer,  October  14,  1912,  editorially 
says : 

“To  the  country  the  most  amazing  and  shocking  feature  of 
the  revelations  which  have  come  out  of  the  metropolis  since 
the  murder  of  the  gambler,  Rosenthal,  who  ‘ squealed,’  is  not  the 
rottenness  uncovered.  It  is  not  the  police  corruption  charged 
and  apparently  proved.  Those  shameful  conditions  were  fairly 
well  understood.  They  have  not  seemed  out  of  keeping  with 
what  has  been  known  about  New  York.  But  the  country  has 
learned  in  astonishment  of  the  existence  of  gangs  of  actual  and 
potential  murderers,  familiar  to  the  underworld  and  feared  as 
men  who  could  be  hired  for  the  butchery  of  any  one  hated  by 
persons  in  authority  or  those  with  plenty  of  money  to  pay  for 
the  assassination  of  their  enemies. 

“ It  has  not  been  generally  known  that  the  largest  city  of 
the  country  tolerated  the  presence  of  bands  of  cut-throats  who 
killed  for  a price,  or  to  placate  some  public  official  as  cruel  and 
brutal  as  he  was  false  to  his  trust.  The  nation  has  never  been 
taught  to  believe  that  the  police  were  powerless,  even  under 
Tammany,  to  beat  down  and  crush  all  violent  and  bloody  law- 
lessness. 

“ The  need  of  reform  in  the  chief  center  of  population, 
wealth,  commerce  and  industry  in  the  New  A^'orld  is  evidently 
greater  than  the  most  pessimistic  Americans  have  supposed.  It 
goes  farther  down  toward  the  savagery  which  it  was  thought 
had  at  least  been  made  less  bold  and  bestial  on  ^Manhattan  Island 
than  it  is  in  the  wildest  towns  of  the  newest  states  and  the 
crudest  mining  camps.” 

Several  investigations  were  started  with  a view  of  learning 
the  real  truth  concerning  graft  and  crime  existing  in  the  city. 
The  Board  of  Aldermen  were  authorized  by  IMayor  Gaynor  to 
investigate;  a special  grand  jury  was  brought  together  by  the 
orders  of  Governor  Dix;  Police  Commissioner  AA'aldo  had  an 
investigating  committee ; the  citizens  also  formed  a committee 
to  investigate  vice  conditions. 

Jack  Rose,  one  of  the  gun-men,  and  who  testified  that  he 
was  a collector  for  Becker,  stated  that  the  amount  of  graft  an- 
nually amounted  to  $2,400,000. 

Allan  Robinson,  Chairman  of  the  Citizens’  Committee  ap- 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


281 


pointed  at  the  big  mass  meeting  to  protest  against  police  condi- 
tions, sent  a letter  to  Ma3-or  Ga3mor  shortly  after  the  meeting, 
tendering  him  the  assistance  of  the  committee  for  the  bettering 
of  civic  conditions.  The  Mayor  was  not  invited  to  participate 
in  the  mass  meeting,  an  omission  that  was  commented  upon  at 
the  time.  The  Ma3^or  took  his  time  about  replying  to  Mr.  Robin- 
son’s letter.  The  reply  made  public  reads  as  follows : 

Office  of  the  Ma3^or,  City  of  New  York. 

Aug.  24,  1912. 

Dear  Sir;  I am  very  glad  indeed,  to  receive  3"our  letter.  Up 
to  the  present  time  I have  received  no  assistance,  but  rather 
opposition  and  embarrassment,  in  the  reorganization  of  the 
Police  Department,  which  has  been  gradually  going  on  ever  since 
I became  Ma3^or.  I suppose  your  committee  knows  that  the 
way  to  stop  graft  in  the  Police  Department  with  gamblers  and 
the  like  is  to  reduce  contact  with  the  sources  of  graft  down  to 
the  least  possible — to  one  contact  if  possible.  If  you  allow  the 
Inspector  and  Captain  all  along  the  line  to  deal  with  matter  you 
cannot  possibly  avoid  graft,  I trust  you  will  get  a list  of  the 
Captains  and  Inspectors  and  study  their  personalities  carefull3". 
I shall  alwa3^s  be  glad  to  have  your  assistance.  Of  course,  I 
notice  that  the  Ma3for  was  not  invited  to  the  public  meeting, 
and  from  the  tone  of  it  I felt  that  it  was  not  organized  to  assist 
the  Mayor.  I trust  that  it  will  turn  out  that  I was  mistaken. 
Everyone  in  this  city  knows  how  hard  I have  worked  since  I 
have  been  Mayor,  to  eliminate  graft  from  all  the  departments. 
I hope  I shall  now  be  supported  from  all  quarters. 

Sincerely  yours, 

W.  J.  GAYNOR,  Mayor. 

The  following  article  on  the  subject  of  graft  appeared  in 
the  Nezv  York  Times,  August  1,  1912  : 

$3,095,000  GRAFT  COLLECTED  IN  1900. 

The  statement  of  Jack  Rose  that  an  annual  tribute  of  $2,400,- 
000  has  been  exacted  1^3^  the  police  from  gamblers  and  others  for 
“protection”  is  not  considered  extrgtvagant  b3’'  those  familiar  with 
conditions  in  the  underworld.  As  a matter  of  fact,  the  amount 
stated  is  nearly  $700,000  a 3^ear  less  than  was  collected  some 
twelve  years  ago.  In  an  expose  of  the  gambling  situation  in  New 
York  in  The  Times  of  March  9,  1900,  it  was  shown  that  $3,095,- 
000  Avas  the  yearh"  tribute  of  keepers  of  gambling  houses  and 
other  resorts  to  the  police  and  other  powers  of  the  City  Gov- 
ernment for  “protection.” 


282 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


The  public  at  the  time  was  simply  dumbfounded  by  the  array 
of  facts  and  figures  published  by  The  Times.  This  enormous 
amount  of  money,  it  was  shown,  was  handled  by  what  was 
known  among  the  gamblers  as  the  “Gambling  Commission,” 
composed  of  a commissioner  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  city  de- 
partments, two  State  Senators,  and  the  dictator  of  the  poolroom 
syndicate,  who  was  before  the  Mazet  Committee,  and  who  was 
allied  with  Tamman}^  Hall. 

The  frequent  assertion  that  men  “high  in  the  councils  of 
Tammany  Hall”  had  been  receiving  money  from  the  gambling 
combine  led  to  the  appointment  of  a committee  of  five,  of  which 
Lewis  Nixon  was  Chairman,  to  investigate  the  truth  of  the 
charges.  In  his  official  report  Mr.  Nixon  said: 

“There  is  an  organization  of  men,  known  as  the  ‘combine,’ 
that  is  organized  for  systematic  blackmail,  and  they  cloak  their 
workings  by  pretending  to  be  paying  Tammany  Hall  the  money 
they  collect  for  the  protection  they  are  supposed  to  furnish  in 
its  name. 

“The  men  who  wish  to  open  places  know  whom  to  see,  and 
having  found  that  certain  men  who  act  in  defiance  of  the  ‘com- 
bine’s’ orders  are  given  short  shrift,  are  naturally  inclined  to  be- 
lieve that  these  men  do  collect  this  money  on  account  of  Tam- 
many Hall,  and  that  if  matters  reach  a climax  this  organization 
will  protect  them.  This  accounts  for  the  almost  defiant  attitude 
of  the  gamblers.” 

The  investigation  and  report  of  Mr.  Nixon’s  committee  fol- 
lowed the  exposiire  made  in  The  Times  of  iMarch  9,  1900,  when 
the  functions  of  the  “Gambling  Commission”  and  its  methods  of 
conducting  a levy  on  gamblers  for  protection  were  related  in  de- 
tail. Tile  Times  said  at  the  time: 

“This  so-called  commission  meets  weekly  in  the  apartments 
of  one  of  its  members,  not  far  from  Fort^'-seventh  Street  and 
Broadway.  The  money  is  not  only  apportioned  at  these  confer- 
ences, but  licenses  to  run  gambling  houses  are  virtually  issued 
there. 

“Not  a gambling  house  is  running  in  this  city  to-day  that  is 
not  known  to  this  board,  and  not  a place  is  running  that  does 
not  pay  its  tax  to  this  board.  Its  system  is  as  complete  as  any 
branch  of  the  City  Government.  There  are  no  leaks,  and  no  un- 
authorized place  can  run  for  twenty-four  hours  without  either 
putting  up  or  shutting  up. 

‘‘The  requisite  for  opening  a gambling  house,  large  or  small, 
and  this  includes  poolrooms,  is  to  go  to  the  Captain  of  the  pre- 
cinct. The  request  to  be  allowed  to  open  is  accompanied  by 
the  ‘initiation’  or  ‘introduction’  fee  of  S300,  and  the  Captain  tells 
the  applicant  that  his  case  will  be  acted  on  in  time. 

“A  Aveek  later  the  applicant  is  notified  of  his  fate.  If  he  can- 
not open,  his  fee  is  returned  to  him,  though  cases  of  this  kind 
are  rare.  The  matter  has  in  the  meantime  been  reported  to  the 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


283 


Gambling  Commission  as  the  Board  of  Governors  passes  upon  the 
application  of  a man  for  club  membership. 


The  Tribute  Then  Exacted. 

“If  the  application  is  passed,  it  is  not  accepted  without  an 
investigation,  tending  for  the  most  part  to  find  out  the  ability 
of  the  would-be  member  to  pay  his  dues  promptly  and  whether 
he  is  a person  who  is  to  be  relied  upon.  The  Captain  of  the  pre- 
cinct is  responsible  for  that  part  of  the  matter.  For  his  work 
therein  he  is  allowed  to  retain  the  initiation  fee. 

“From  that  time  on  little  that  comes  from  the  gaming  crib 
sticks  to  the  Captain’s  fingers.  There  are  regularly  organized 
collectors,  among  them  ward  men  and  Inspectors,  and  there  is 
not  much  leakage  before  the  money  finally  lands  in  the  Gambling 
Commission’s  hands. 

“The  amount  that  lands  there  is  made  up  as  follows : 


Poolrooms,  400,  .$300  each  per  month,  or  per  year $1,440,000 

Crap  games,  500,  $150  each  per  month,  or  per  year 900,000 

Gambling  houses,  200,  $150  each  per  month,  or  per  year 300,000 

Gambling  houses,  large,  20,  $1,000  each  per  month,  or  per  year  240,000 

Envelope  games,  50,  $50  each  per  mon'-h,  or  per  year 30,000 

Policy,  per  year  125,000 


Total  $3,095,000 


The  revelations  made  by  The  Times  came  as  the  result  of 
a complaint  on  the  part  of  the  gamblers,  who  contended  that 
the  Gambling  Commission,  in  its  desire  to  make  all  it  could  in 
as  short  a time  as  possible,  was  licensing  gambling  houses  indis- 
criminately, and  that  the  business  was  to  a large  extent  being 
ruined  through  too  much  competition,”  The  article  further 
stated : 

“A  gambler  who  knows  every  ramification  of  the  ‘protec- 
tion’ business  said  that  there  were  in  the  greater  city  more  than 
2,000  illegal  ‘joints’  which  pay  for  non-molestation.  Every  one 
of  these  was  required  to  put  up  an  initiation  fee  of  $300  before 
it  could  open.  This  part  of  the  plunder  went  to  the  Police  Cap- 
tain and  his  henchmen,  so  that  in  the  last  three  years  over 
$600,000  had  been  paid  to  this  part  of  the  protection  com- 
bination.” 

Later,  when  Lewis  Nixon,  speaking  for  the  investigating 
committee,  stated  that  he  had  the  names  of  fifteen  men  in  the 
gambling  combine  to  present  to  the  District  Attorney,  John  D. 
Crimmins  made  the  following  comment: 

“There  are  probably  fifty  men  in  the  Democratic  Club  who 
could  tell  you  all  about  the  gambling  combine.  When  The  Times 
printed  the  article  some  time  ago  about  the  gambling  com- 


384 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


mission,  I made  inquiries  and  learned  that  the  statements  made 
in  The  Times  were  the  truth.  The  system  of  levying  blackmail 
was  in  that  article  fully  exposed.  I heard  from  a man  who  is 
authority  on  such  matters  that  the  information  printed  by  your 
paper  was  correct.” 

Drawing  a line  between  what  Tammany  Hall  did  as  an 
organization  and  leaders  of  Tammany  did  as  -individuals,  Mr. 
Nixon  concluded  that  men  who  were  leaders  in  the  Tammanv 
Society,  though  not  as  high  up  as  Richard  Croker,  might  have 
received  money  from  the  gambling  combine. 


Wall  Street.  (3)  The  Dollar  Wins. 


Referring  to  the  statement  about  Mr.  Croker,  !Mr.  Crimmins 
had  this  to  say : 

“If  you  go  to  certain  disgruntled  men — men  who  have  a 
grievance,  and  there  are  man}-  of  them— you  wdll  learn  all  about 
the  levying  of  blackmail,  and  the  percentages  which  certain 
forms  of  law-breaking  pa}^  for  protection.  Tammany  Hall  is  a 
big  political  machine.  On  election  day  it  has  crowds  of  workers. 
Of  course  this  large  sum  is  not  turned  into  the  hands  of  the 
politicians  at  one  time.  It  is  collected  and  held  for  use  on  elec- 
tion day.  There  are  many  people  Avho  can  tell  about  such 
matters.  These  matters  are  discussed  by  certain  politicians  at 
their  clubs,  and  it  ought  to  be  a simple  matter  to  get  the  truth 
about  blackmail  and  Avhere  the  money  comes  from,” 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


285 


In  a speech  delivered  at  Durland’s  Riding  Academ)^,  Oc- 
tober 28,  1905,  William  Randolph  Hearst  said : 

“If  you  elect  Murphy  and  McCarren  and  McClellan  for  four 
years,  you  surrender  unconditionally  to  as  brutal  a lot  of  private 
speculators  and  public  plunderers  as  ever  banded  together  to 
rob  and  outrage  the  helpless  people. 

“Why,  this  city  would  be  pillaged  as  captured  towns  have 
been  ravaged  in  war,  as  Troy  was  sacked  and  looted  when  the 
Greeks  induced  the  Trojans  to  admit  the  wooden  horse.  The 
selfish  speculators,  the  corrupt  bosses,  the  impudent  puppets 
care  nothing  for  popular  indignation.” 

The  Nezv  York  Journal,  September  20,  1907,  in  referring  to 
the  above  speech  said : 

“The  days  of  Tweed  no  longer  register  the  low-water  mark 
of  municipal  corruption.  The  days  of  McClellan  will  go  down  in 
history  surpassing  in  outrageous  graft  and  political  piracy  any- 
thing that  has  ever  been  known  before. 

“Have  the  American  people  or  the  people  of  New  York  lost 
all  their  spirit  of  independence,  their  sense  of  justice,  their  ideas 
of  morality?” 

A'Vhile  we  deplore  the  horrible  murder  of  Rosenthal,  we  must 
trust  that  good  will  come  out  of  evil,  and  that  righteousness  and 
truth  shall  be  the  great  prevailing  forces  from  henceforth. 

The  London  Daily  Mail,  of  August  16,  1908,  reported  the 
following : 

“ General  Bingham,  ex-Commissioner  of  Police,  in  a maga- 
zine article  estimates  that  £20,000,000  of  ‘ graft  ’ and  blackmail 
is  paid  in  New  York  yearly. 

“ After  reviewing  some  of  the  evil  conditions  incident  to 
Tammany  rule,  he  declares  that  the  power  of  Tammany  could 
be  destroyed  in  ten  3'ears  or  less  by  a ‘ strong,  honest,  fearless 
Police  Commissioner,  supported  b^"  the  police  magistrates  of 
ability  and  integrity  and  a mayor  big  enough  to  conduct  his 
office  without  fear  or  favor.’ 

“He  asserts  that  one  lawyer  prominent  in  Tammany  Hall 
represents  nearly  all  the  expert  pickpockets  in  New  York,  an- 
other the  gambling-houses,  and  two  or  three  the  liquor  law  vio- 
lators. General  Bingham  estimates  that  1,500  to  2,000  of  the 
police — about  one-fifth  of  the  force — ‘are  unscrupulous  “graft- 
ers,” whose  hands  are  always  out  for  easy  money.’ 

“ He  says  that  he  might  have  made  £200,000  a year,  and  re- 
lates an  offer  of  £2,000  a month  to  let  one  gambling-house  re- 
main open.  ‘ I was  offered  £1,000  in  cash  and  £100  a month 
merely  to  be  seen  shaking  hands  with  the  proprietor  of  one 
Upper  Broadway  cafe.’  ” 


286 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


There  is  too  much  shaking  hands  and  too  much  familiarity 
between  the  officers  of  the  law  and  the  law  violators.  iMayor 
Gaynor  asserts  that  the  way  to  stop  graft  “is  to  reduce  contact 
with  the  sources  of  graft  down  to  the  least  possible — to  one  con- 
tact if  possible.”  This  contains  a lot  of  truth,  but  while  it  may 
lessen  the  amount  of  graft  money  exacted,  it  gives  no  absolute 
assurance  that  there  will  be  no  graft. 

One  method  that  may  be  used  with  effect  to  successfully 
overcome  this  special  crime — for  it  is  a crime  for  an  officer  of 
the  law  (whose  salary  is  paid  by  the  taxpayers)  to  exact  graft 
money  so  that  law  violators  may  continue  to  violate  the  law,  is 
to  do  away  with  the  fine  and  in  its  place  substitute  a term  in 
the  penitentiary,  and  make  the  term  positive,  by  placing  the 
word  “shall”  instead  of  “may,”  when  imprisonment  is  part  of 
the  penalty. 

If  the  statute  declared  that  the  judge  shall  sentence  the 
prisoner  to  six  months  in  prison,  in  the  place  of  may,  there 
would  be  less  gambling  and  other  forms  of  crime  committed. 

Should  the  above  recommendation  not  have  the  desired 
effect,  then  I suggest  that  all  State  Legislatures  enact  laws  pro- 
viding for  the  confiscation  of  all  buildings  used  for  gambling 
purposes,  and  the  proceeds  devoted  to  hospitals  or  some  other 
kind  of  charitable  institution  or  for  educational  purposes. 

The  eyes  of  the  nation  will  be  upon  New  York  for  years  to 
come.  Let  the  good  citizens  awake  and  do  all  in  their  power  to 
assist  the  officers  of  the  law  in  enforcing  law  and  order,  and 
stand  by  them  in  all  cases  of  emergency.  It  is  not  the  rank  and 
file  who  get  the  graft,  but  a few  officers  who  use  their  position 
and  knowledge  to  exact  the  graft  in  order  to  swell  their  own 
bank  accounts. 


THE  MIGHTY  DOLLAR. 


When  a man’s  sole  object  is  to  make  money  and  worship  it 
instead  of  his  God,  it  becomes  a curse  to  him  and  all  those  about 
him,  and  in  this  case  he  had  better  flee  from  it  as  from  the  most 
accursed  blood-sucking 
vampire  that  ever  up- 
rose from  the  cav- 
erns of  old  Satan’s 
headquarters.  The  il- 
lustration of  the  hands 
grasping  for  the 
mighty  dollar  will  con- 
vey the  importance  of 
its  mighty  power.  The 
hands  do  not  all  belong 
to  Jews;  when  it 
comes  to  loving  money 
we  are  mostly  all  Jews. 

This  applies  to  all  who 
add  anything  to  the 
pressure  upon  the  al- 
ready over-taxed  and 
under-fed  men  and  wo- 
men of  the  afflicted 
human  race.  Bread  for  the  stomach  in  this  life  as  well  as  for  the 
spiritual  soul  in  the  next,  is  what  is  wanted. 

On  the  American  dollar  are  these  words : “ In  God  we 

trust.”  Woe  to  the  nation  when  this  ceases  to  be  a fact.  The 
inscription  on  the  illustration  is  “ In  THIS  GOD  we  trust.” 
This  is  applicable  to  many  thousands  of  our  citizens  to-day. 
When  Theodore  Roosevelt  had  the  inscription  taken  ofif  the  dol- 
lar there  was  a general  outburst  of  indignation  against  it.  The 
inscription  was  replaced,  but  it  gave  the  nation  cause  for  serious 
thought.  I believe  Mr.  Roosevelt  was  sincere  in  his  action. 

Our  prisons  are  full  of  men  whose  first  step  in  crime  was 
the  eagerness  to  make  money  without  Avorking  for  it.  Millions 
of  dollars  have  been  embezzled  and  lost  through  rash  specula- 

287 


288 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


tioiis  on  the  stock  exchange.  jMoney  is  the  mark  of  lirnitation. 
We  live  in  a world  where  work  is  paid  for  with  money,  and  to 
possess  it  should  mean  to  work  for  it. 

The  green  cloth  gamblers  rob  men  of  their  money,  while  the 
produce  gamblers  rob  them  of  their  bread  and  impose  famine 
upon  people  who  are  surrounded  with  plenty.  The  produce 
gamblers  give  the  lie  to  the  facts,  places  the  main  edibles  and 
coal  out  of  the  reach  of  thousands,  and  rvould  corner  the  air  if 
they  could  in  order  to  add  a few  more  dollars  to  their  millions ; 
they  care  nothing  as  to  how  the  poor  live,  or  rvhether  they  live 
at  all,  but  see  that  their  own  tables  are  well  stocked  with  the 
best  that  the  land  can  produce. 

Where  are  these  men’s  consciences?  It  may  be  that  they 
give  them  opiates  to  partially  quiet  them  while  they  wrestle  in 
the  pit  through  the  day  with  bulls  and  bears ; but  their  con- 
sciences get  them  alone  at  night  and  makes  a settlement. 

V'all  Street  should  be  changed  to  Wolf  Street.  It  could 
not  be  better  located.  At  the  head  is  a graveyard,  at  the  foot 
a river.  The  pet  lambs,  after  they  have  been  fleeced  of  their 

wool,  can  jump  in  the  river  and 
drown  themselves,  and  the 
graveyard  is  handy. 

When  all  the  pride,  cruelty 
and  ambition  of  a man  is  only 
measured  in  dollars,  he  is  not 
much  use  to  the  community  in 
which  he  lives. 

Years  ago,  in  a southwest 
Georgia  county,  an  old  couple, 
with  an  only  son,  lived  in  a 
rude  cabin  in  the  woods.  It  is 
related  that  the  old  man  was 
a miser,  and  drove  his  son  from 
home  to  make  his  living  in  the 
world  at  a very  tender  age. 
Years  passed  and  the  boy  was 
given  up  by  his  parents  as 
dead. 

One  stormy  night  a tall 
man  with  beard  knocked  at  the  door  of  the  little  cabin  and  asked 
for  shelter.  It  was  grudgingly  given  him  by  the  old  couple,  but 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVIGES. 


289 


when  the  stranger  showed  them  a bag  of  gold  which  he  carried 
in  his  valise  they  were  overjoyed.  That  night,  as  the  guest  lay 
sleeping,  the  old  man  crept  to  his  side.  There  was  a glitter  of 

a keen  blade  in  the  darkness,  and  then 

When  morning  came  the  old  woman  looked  on  the  dead 
man’s  face  and  screamed  with  terror. 

‘‘  God  have  mercy  on  us ! ” she  cried.  “ We  have  killed  our 
boy,  our  son  that  was  lost ! ” 


TO  THE  DOLLAR. 


Mighty  Dollar ! our  acknowledged  governor,  preserver  and 
benefactor.  It  matters  not  how  we  live,  thou  canst  erect  a 
magnificent  monument  over  our  graves,  with  a living  epitaph 
to  perpetuate  our  memory.  Thou  canst  secure  feed  lawyers,  a 
bribed  judge  or  jury 
to  set  us  free.  What 
an  exuberance  of  joy 
swells  every  bosom 
when  thou  art  upon  the 
gridiron ; thou  art  the 
jo)^  of  youth  and  the 
solace  of  old  age ; thou 
canst  adorn  the  rich 
and  feed  the  poor.  All 
nations  adore  thee; 
thou  art  loved  by 
civilized  and  savage 
alike,  with  unfeigned 
and  unfailing  affection. 

O,  precious  Dollar!  be 
with  us,  we  beseech 
thee,  attended  by  an  in- 
expressible number  of 
thy  ministering  angels, 
made  in  thine  own 
image,  whose  gladdening  light  will  illumine  the  penury  and 
want  with  heavenly  radiance,  which  does  cause  the  awakened 
soul  to  break  forth  in  acclamations  of  joy.  ]\Iighty  Dollar ! thy 
19 


Brains  and  no 
Money. 

I mast  go  to  prison. 


Money  and  no  Brains. 

This  man’s  money  keeps 
him  out  of  prison. 


290 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


shining  face  bespeaks  thy  wondrous  power.  Our  pockets  be 
thy  resting  place.  We  need  thee  every  hour. 

I leave  it  to  the  reader  to  interpret  the  above. 


THE  DOLLAR  DOES  THE  BUSINESS  EVERY  TIME. 

This  world  is  full  of  wonder  and  every  day  we  see 
Some  strange  and  curious  sights  on  every  hand; 

No  matter  where  we  go  we  always  find  it  so, 

That  money  is  the  ruler  in  the  land. 

There’s  a man  that’s  ooor  and  lowly,  with  a brave  and  honest  heart, 
Who'd  scorn  to  wrong  his  neighbor  of  a dime; 

By  the  wealthy  he  is  slighted,  there’s  none  to  take  his  part. 

For  the  dollar  does  the  business  every  time. 

CHORUS— 

Then  we  should  not  forget  to  remember  with  regret. 

That  povert}'  is  often  called  a crime; 

For  the  man  with  wealth  and  fame  holds  a high  and  honored  name. 
For  the  dollar  does  the  business  every  time. 

There’s  the  high-toned  paying  teller,  who  in  luxury  does  roll. 
With  other  people’s  money  at  his  hand, 

When  he  finds  himself  in  trouble,  of  a pile  he  takes  control. 

And  for  his  health  goes  to  a foreign  land. 

But  shcfuld  he  be  arrested,  his  friends  secure  him  bail. 

And  in  court  he  is  acquitted  of  the  crime; 

For  the  judge  he  fails  to  see,  or  the  jury  can’t  agree. 

For  the  dollar  does  the  business  every  time. 

And  in  our  courts  of  justice  where  honor  should  abound 
And  equal  rights  be  given  one  and  all, 

The  man  with  lots  of  money  is  very  often  found 
To  excel  the  one  whose  bank  account  is  small. 

He  can  work  the  judge  and  jurj'-  in  a scientific  way. 

The  verdict  is  “not  guilty  of  the  crime;” 

But  the  poor  man  goes  to  prison,  while  the  wealthi^  walks  away. 
For  the  dollar  does  the  business  ever3'-  time. 

Our  corporation  president  who  lives  in  lordly  stjde. 

With  a salary  of  thousands  everj^  year. 

Takes  a quiet  trip  to  Europe,  and  with  him  quite  a pile 
Of  dollars  from  the  bank,  does  disappear. 

Sometimes  he  goes  to  prison  bj"  the  order  of  the  court. 

And  gets  an  easy  sentence  for  the  crime; 

But  his  friends  to  him  will  stick,  he  is  pardoned  very  quick, 

For  the  dollar  does  the  business  every  time. 

It’s  just  the  same  old  story,  you  very  often  hear, 

And  the  truth  of  it  you  never  can  denjq 

That  the  man  that’s  got  the  millions  can  every  time  appear 
As  a man  of  honor  in  the  public  ej^e. 

For  money  is  the  master  that  governs  one  and  all. 

We  struggle  for  a dollar  or  a dime; 

And  no  matter  how  inclined,  we’re  always  sure  to  find, 

That  the  dollar  does  the  business  every  time. 


ARRAIGNMENT  OF  GAMBLING  IN  ITS  MORAL 
ASPECTS  (ABRIDGED). 

By  Rev.  Robert  McIntyre,  Bishop  M.  E.  Church. 

“Did  you  ever  see  the  autograph  of  the  President?”  said 
Warden  B.,  of  the  I.  State  Penitentiary.  He  had  been  a member 
of  my  congregation  for  years,  and  at  his  request  I had  visited 
the  prison  to  preach  to  the  convicts.  The  wagon  which  brought 
me  from  the  station  carried  the  mail  bag,  and,  while  looking 
over  his  letters,  he  held  up  a large  official  envelope  with  the 
above  question. 

“ No,”  I answered,  taking  my  eyes  from  the  intelligent  con- 
vict who  sat  in  striped  clothing  writing  at  a desk,  and  whose 
shaven  and  shame-flushed  face  was  persistently  turned  from  me. 
” I would  like  to  see  his  signature,  as  my  vote  helped  to  put 
him  in  the  White  House.” 

“ There  it  is,”  said  the  warden,  handing  me  the  document, 
which  I soon  discovered  to  be  a pardon  for  a certain  youth, 
who  had  served  three  years  of  a six  years’  sentence  for  theft 
from  the  Post  Office  Department. 

“Why  is  this  pardon  given,  warden?”  “Well,”  said  he, 
“ this  young  man  is  of  good  family,  and  has  dependent  on  him 
a widowed  mother,  a wife  and  child.  He  became  the  dupe  of 
gamblers  who  fleeced  him,  and  then  the  Devil,  I reckon,  sug- 
gested that  he  might  recoup  his  loss  by  stealing  from  the  Gov- 
ernment, and  in  an  evil  hour  he  fell,  was  detected,  convicted, 
and  with  other  United  States  men  sent  here.  I remember  the 
day  he  came ; how  heart-broken  he  stood  in  the  corridor  till 
the  sheriff  gave  me  the  papers,  unloosed  his  shackles,  and  turned 
the  gang  over  to  me.  They  were  coupled  in  irons  on  the  cars, 
and  John  was  paired  with  a hardened  felon  who  had  done  time 
before,  as  had  most  of  the  lot.  They  glanced  defiantly  around 
at  the  officers  with  a braggart  insolence  as  the  iron  gates  clanged 
on  them,  but  he  paled  and  trembled,  tears  silently  flowing  down 
his  face  to  the  stone  floor.  I followed  to  the  bath-house,  where 
they  are  washed,  shaved,  cropped  and  dressed  in  stripes.  At 
the  registry,  when  asked  his  age,  name,  etc.,  with  great  effort 

291 


1 


292 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


he  managed  to  answer,  but  when  asked  his  father’s  name,  a 
vision  of  the  dead  seemed  to  rise  before  him.  Overwhelmed 
with  shame  he  tried  thrice  with  choking  utterance  to  tell  the 
name,  and  then  faltered  it  with  such  a moan  of  agony  that 
even  the  clerk,  used  to  such  scenes,  felt  his  hand  tremble  as 
he  wrote  it  down.  You  know  our  rules  require  the  reading  of 
all  letters  before  they  reach  the  prisoners.  The  chaplin,  at  my 
request,  read  those  sent  to  him.  We  found  such  woe,  such 
evidence  of  his  former  honor,  such  testimony  to  his  previous 
good  character,  that  friends  became  interested  in  him.  I helped 
him,  thinking  it  a case  for  Executive  clemency.  The  President, 
who  is  a merciful  man,  looked  into  the  case,  pondered  it  a month, 
and  sends  this  pardon.” 

“ Now,”  I said  when  the  sad  story  was  ended,  “ warden,  I 
-want  to  ask  a favor.  Let  me  present  this  pardon  to  him  in 
person.  I understand  that  it  makes  him  free  from  this  hour ; I 
wish  to  study  the  human  face  in  the  moment  when  the  revela- 
tion that  he  is  free  dawns  on  his  mind.  May  I do  this?” 

“ Certainly,”  was  the  answer,  and  striking  a silver  bell,  a 
“ trusty  ” appeared.  He  said,  “ Tom,  bring  John  R.  to  my  office 
at  once.” 

While  waiting,  I said,  “ Does  he  expect  a pardon?” 

“ No,”  was  the  answer,  “ he  knows  nothing  of  the  efforts 
to  set  him  free.  It  will  be  a total  surprise  to  him.” 

In  a few  moments  the  trusty  returned  with  the  man  he 
Avas  sent  to  summon.  The  jail  garb  did  not  wholly  hide  his 
handsome  form,  nor  the  cropped  hair  entjrely  vulgarize  the  in- 
tellectual countenance  which  fell  as  he  saw  strangers  looking 
at  him.  He  seemed  to  Avonder  AAdiy  he  Avas  ordered  up  before 
the  warden;  there  Avas  shame,  sorroAAq  helplessness  in  his  face 
as  I rose,  with  the  paper  in  my  hand  and  Avalked  toAvard  him. 

“John,”  said  the  warden,  “this  gentleman  has  a feAV  AA'ords 
to  say  to  you.” 

The  couAuct  braced  himself  up  for  the  interA'ieAV,  and  I 
said,  “Your  name  is  John  R.,  I belieA'e.”  “Yes,”  he  replied, 
steadily. 

“ I haA^e  here,”  I Avent  on,  “ a paper  addressed  to  you,  signed 
bv  the  President  of  the  United  States.  It  is  a pardon.  Lou 
are  a free  man,  John.” 

The  look  of  assumed  courage  in  his  eyes  changed  to  one  of 
infinite  pathos,  then  softened  pitiously  as  his  soul  SAvooned  AA’ith 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES.  293 


joy  that  was  almost  too  much.  I saw  him  sway  as  if  to  fall, 
but  caught  him,  and  leaning  on  my  shoulder,  he  said,  “Free! 
free!  O God,  is  it  true?  When  can  I go  home?”  “This  very 
moment,”  said  1.  He  looked  wistfully  out  the  great  door  where 
the  sentry  stood,  and  asked,  “ Can  I go  out  there  now?” 

“ Yes,”  I said,  “ come,  I will  go  with  you,”  and  arm  in  arm 
we  walked  down  the  great  stone  stair,  passed  the  guards  into 
the  street  and  across  to  a fence  beyond.  He  stopped  a pace  or 
two  away,  looked  at  the  emerald  hills,  the  river  flowing  by,  the 
children  passing,  the  Armament  above,  and  as  the  happy  tears 
drenched  his  face,  said : “ O,  sir,  I am  the  happiest  man  alive. 

When  does  the  train  start  east?”  “At  three,”  I said.  “I  will 
see  you  safely  started.” 

“Won’t  my  wife  and  baby  Jess  be  glad  to-morrow,  and 
mother,  how  she  will  smile ; I am  eager  to  be  off.”  I took  him 
in  and  soon  saw  him  fitted  with  the  civilian’s  clothes  and  pro- 
vided with  the  railway  ticket  to  his  destination,  and  with  the 
$10  the  State  gives  every  released  convict. 

How  proudly  he  walked  by  my  side  to  the  station,  and  as 
the  bell  clanged,  he  held  my  hand  and  said,  “ You  talk  to  hun- 
dreds of  young  men;  sir,  tell  them  this,  tell  it  with  burning 
eloquence,  tell  it  with  pleading  tears,  beware  of  gaming,  shun 
gamblers  as  lepers.  Cards  are  accursed  of  God,  and  pass-ports 
to  perdition.  Will  you  tell  them  this?”  And  as  the  train 
moved  off  I said,  “ I will.” 

To  this  end  I write  a chapter  in  this  book,  that  by  earnest 
warning  or  brotherly  appeal,  I may  help  to  pluck  young  men 
out  of  the  hands  of  this  giant  enemy  of  our  race,  and  perhaps 
halt  some  who  are  already  hurrying  down  this  pathway  to  dis- 
honor. Standing  here  at  the  very  gates  of  these  polluted 
temples,  where  many  have  been  cruelly  “ done  to  death,”  I 
raise  the  cry  “ beware  of  gaming.  It  dishonors  God,  degrades 
man,  wrecks  honor,  ruins  business,  destro}'S  homes,  breaks  wifely 
hearts,  steals  babes’  bread,  brings  mothers  sorrowing  to  the 
grave,  and  at  last,  with  reckless  bravado  launches  the  sinful  soul 
into  the  path  of  God’s  descending  wrath,  to  be  overwhelmed 
forever.” 

The  only  argument  offered  by  gamblers  is  that  their  busi- 
ness keeps  money  in  circulation.  It  does,  indeed,  transferring 
it  from  the  pocket  of  the  fool  to  that  of  the  knave,  and  thence 
to  the  pockets  of  the  harlot  or  rumseller,  but  there  is  no  gain  in 


294 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


this  transaction.  Better  the  money  had  remained  where  it  was 
or  been  put  to  other  uses. 

Young  men  will  read  these  words  who  know  not  one  card 
from  another;  who  have  no  personal  knowledge  of  lotteries, 
raffles,  dice  or  betting.  Yours  is  blissful  ignorance,  honorable 
innocence. 

How  I love  the  youth  who  can  say,  when  cards  are  brought 
out  for  play  in  a private  house,  “ I do  not  know  one  card  from 
another.  I have  no  desire  to  learn  their  use.”  Young  heart  of 
oak,  give  me  thy  hand.  Some  will  sneer,  I charge  you  to  keep 
your  honor  bright. 

Though  people  of  good  character  persuade  and  gloss  this 
evil,  stand  firm  as  the  hills.  Should  professing  Christians  (God 
pity  them)  make  of  the  painted  paste-boards  a social  snare,  be 
the  company  never  so  charming,  the  stakes  never  so  trifling, 
beware:  Once  you  play  the  first  game,  you  are  on  the  slant ; 
the  descent  is  smooth  and  swift,  and  the  end  is  terrible. 

You  will  hear  sophistries  about  the  difference  between  play- 
ing and  gambling,  and  the  harmlessness  of  cards  and  other 
Devil’s  toggery.  Playing  is  the  egg  out  of  which  the  cockatrice 
is  hatched.  Handle  it  not. 

Climbing  a slippery  pass  to  the  Alps,  one  comes  to  a narrow 
icy  path  with  a great  rock  on  the  one  hand,  and  a deep  gorge  on 
the  other.  It  is  called  by  the  guides  the  “ Hell  Place,”  and  you 
are  asked  to  creep  cautiously  there,  a slip  is  destruction.  The 
green  cloth  of  the  gaming  table  is  the  moral  hell  place  to  many 
souls ; to  this,  sorrowing  relatives,  weeping  wives,  heart-broken 
mothers  can  point  and  say,  “ There  my  boy  slipped,  there  my 
husband  fell,  lost  property,  position,  honor,  all.”  At  the  foot 
of  this  slant  is  the  prisoner’s  cell,  the  maniac’s  cage,  the  suicide's 
grave ; at  the  top  the  smiling  decoy,  shod  with  adder  skin,  or 
the  smooth-tongued  gamester,  waiting  to  lure  men  to  the  fatal 
hazard. 

Some  will  read  these  words  who  are  already  acquainted 
with  the  beginnings  of  this  honeyed  vice.  They  have  shuffled 
the  Satanic  pack,  booked  the  bet,  and  perhaps  pinched  them- 
selves in  purse  to  pay  the  lost  wager,  or  have  now  in  pocket  the 
coins  won  at  gambling.  Take  these  coins  out  and  look  at  them; 
they  are  unclean,  polluted. 

Once,  when  the  plague  ravished  an  English  village,  the 
wretched  people  resorted  to  the  bank  of  the  stream  near  by, 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


295 


to  get  bread  left  there  for  them.  They  tossed  the  coins  for 
payment  into  the  brook  where  they  were  found  hours  after- 
wards by  those  who  sold  the  food.  They  thought  the  water  had 
cleansed  the  pestilent  catagion  from  the  coins.  Perhaps  it  had, 
but  no  brook,  river  or  sea  hath  tide  medicinal  enough  to  cleanse 
the  curse  from  money  won  at  gaming.  It  is  cankered.  It  is 
blood-stained  and  tear-rusted.  It  will  curse  him  that  wins  and 
him  that  loses. 

My  friend,  you  are  yet  only  a novice  in  this  black  art.  Let 
me,  by  all  rational  appeal,  abjure  you  to  abstain.  It  is  the  father 
of  falsehood,  forgery  and  fraud,  and  the  covetous  human  heart 
is  the  mother  of  this  ill-gotten  brood. 

Can  you  specify  one  instance  where  the  gains  of  gambling 
have  brought  comfort  or  contentment?  What  would  your  father 
think,  your  employer  say,  if  they  knew  that  you  were  a gamester, 
spending  your  evenings  where  these  human  swine  whet  their 
tusks?  Who  sinks  so  low  in  the  mire  of  infamy  as  the  man 
who  is  kicked  out  of  business  or  society  with  the  millstone  of 
gambling  hung  to  his  neck?  Bitter  is  the  ban  and  black  is  the 
brand  put  on  the  wretch  whose  hardened  forehead  is  set  against 
the  hissing  of  that  word  “ gambler.” 

Who  are  the  associates  a man  finds  at  races  and  the  card 
table?  Are  they  not  the  Pariahs,  social  lepers  whose  touch  is 
pollution?  Would  a man  take  his  sisters  or  his  children  among 
these  white-fanged  wolves ; are  they  not  nameless  at  the  hearth, 
unknown  where  high-toned  and  virtuous  people  meet?  Think 
of  the  vile  talk,  the  impure  jest,  the  unclean  associations.  You 
cannot  stoop  to  this.  What  can  money  buy,  though  you  won 
every  wager,  that  will  repay  you  for  the  loss  of  wifely  love, 
childhood’s  trust,  the  father’s  proud  faith  in  his  boy. 

Consider  the  malign  vicissitudes  of  this  sport,  see  the  ruined, 
forsaken,  nerveless  gambler,  wrecked  and  wretched  at  last ; 
abandoned  to  the  gibes  of  men,  and  the  anger  of  God;  crawling 
into  a lazaretto  to  die.  Mother,  with  dimpled  hands  upheld  to 
you  at  evening,  and  fair  head  pillowed  on  your  bosom,  think 
not,  “ M}^  bonnie  boy  is  safe.”  This  fiend  spares  none.  He  will 
seek  this  braw  lad  to  destroy  him.  With  devilish  cunning  he 
will  even  persuade  you  to  aid  in  A^our  son’s  downfall ; to  teach 
him  in  the  social  game,  to  use  the  leprous  papers  of  the  pit,  on 
which  is  inscribed  the  voiceless  litany  of  woe. 

Hell’s  utmost  anguish  surely  has  no  deeper  depth  than 


296 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


that  of  the  mother  who  sees  her  son  a degraded,  sodden  game- 
ster, and  remembers  that  she  taught  him  to  handle  the  imple- 
ments of  his  ruin.  If  a mother  can  front  the  judgment  and  say. 
“ I never  countenanced  the  evil,  I bitterly  opposed  it  always, 
to  the  utmost  of  my  power,”  she  may  feel  when  her  dear  son 
is  lost,  the  most  unspeakable  regret,  but  she  escapes  the  re- 
morse which  eats  the  heart  of  her  who  unwittingly  fostered 
the  serpent  which  compassed  her  child’s  destruction.  Let  us 
ring  our  children  round  with  circles  of  flame  across  which  none 
of  these  man  hawks  can  come.  Let  us  make  home  the  happiest 
place  on  earth.  With  mirth,  laughter,  music,  books,  friends;  a 
safe  refuge,  a snug  harbor,  a shadow  of  a great  rock,  and  a 
citadel  for  defence  of  our  dear  ones  from  this  pitiless  foe. 

Let  me  sketch  the  career  of  an  upright,  kindly  village  vouth 
who  longs  for  a wider  field  of  action.  He  has  mastered  the 
elements  of  business  as  practised  in  the  rural  community ; he 
desires  to  try  his  talents  in  the  busy  Avorld,  and  chooses  a mightv 
city  as  the  field  of  his  endeavor.  A roaring  center  of  commer- 
cial activity;  its  streets  a ganglion  of  business  nerves;  its  mart 
the  engorged  plexus  of  traffic,  where  the  best  and  the  worst 
have  habitation. 

As  I see  this  young  fellow,  with  face  like  an  open  book, 
standing  for  the  first  time  in  the  city’s  streets,  I am  reminded 
of  a scene  I once  witnessed  in  the  country.  I stood  on  the 
edge  of  a wood  looking  across  a beautiful  meadow.  It  was  a 
perfect  day  in  June,  and  all  the  world  seemed  at  peace.  Crickets 
were  chirping  in  the  grass,  the  yellow-hammer  was  tapping  on 
a tree  above,  the  cattle  were  grazing  brisket-deep  in  the  lush 
grass,  the  birds  were  singing  as  if  to  breathe  were  music.  All 
nature  looked  lovely.  Far  away  across  the  brook,  on  a dead 
tree,  I noticed  a number  of  buzzards,  waiting  for  the  sight  of 
something  on  which  they  might  gorge  their  unclean  appetites. 

I think  of  this  as  I watch  him  alone  on  the  city’s  streets 
at  evening,  gazing  into  a window  where  the  light  falls  on 
diamonds,  opals,  rubies ; amid  the  din  of  the  city,  near  the 
theatres  and  saloons,  where  music  throbs,  lamps  flare,  cabs 
rattle,  and  through  these  noises  comes  a A^oice  in  modulated 
semi-tones  from  one  standing  at  his  side,  aaEo  asks : “ Did  you 
hear  of  the  big  winning  last  night?”  “ No,  sir.  Avhere  Avas  it?” 
“ I'p  the  street  at  old  Brad’s  place.  No.  197.  A felloAA''  A\"on 
$6,000  in  tAvo  hours.  I am  going  up  to  try  my  luck.  Come 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


297 


along,  just  for  the  fun  of  the  thing.”  He  goes.  The  front  of 
the  house  is  dark ; a red  light  burns  over  the  stairway  door — 
danger  signal  over  a bottomless  abyss.  He  is  void  of  under- 
standing; a private  key,  pass  word,  or  patron  of  the  game  is 
needed  to  secure  entrance.  The  panel  of  the  door  slips  aside, 
a whisper,  then  a reply.  The  door  opens,  upstairs  they  go. 
i\Ien  seated  and  standing  scarcely  look  up — wheels  click — dice 
rattle— cards  shuffle — glasses  clink — sooty  servants  glide  with 
trays  and  bottles — cheap  stucco  statuary  appears  through  the 
smoke — muttered  curses  tell  of  losses.  Lie  is  led  to  the  faro 
table,  where  a mastiff-faced  man  deals  cards,  and  after  he  has 
sipped  a little  liquor,  which  is  freely  offered,  he  tells  his  guide 
that  he  has  never  played.  Lie  is  informed  that  a man  always 
wins  his  first  bet — fortune  favors  his  first  play.  Men  put  chips 
in  his  hands,  saying,  “ Play  this  bet  for  me.”  “ But  I don’t 
knoAV  the  cards,”  he  replies.  “ Put  the  bet  down  on  any  card, 
it  will  surely  win.”  Down  it  goes — it  wins — and  as  they  rake 
in  the  gains,  he  thinks,  “ I might  have  won  a month’s  salary  in 
a moment.”  Lightly  as  snowflakes  fall  the  cards ; deft  the 
touch;  swift  the  shuffle.  It  seems  so  simple.  He  carries  money 
saved  from  a father’s  toil,  a sister’s  earnings  offered  to  help  him 
secure  his  stock  of  goods  to  start  business.  Mother  has  helped 
him,  saying,  “ David  will  help  me  when  I need  his  help.  I will 
have  a strong  son  to  lean  on  when  my  old  feet  dip  down  falter- 
ingly  to  the  cold  river  of  death.” 

As  he  hesitates  there  on  the  porch  of  Perdition,  he  is  told 
to  bid  farewell  to  peace,  farewell  to  prospects  of  success,  fare- 
well to  the  promise  of  his  young  manhood,  farewell  to  the 
prayers  of  his  parents.  Pray,  mothers ! with  clasped  hands 
kneeling  at  this  very  hour  under  the  pictures  in  your  boy’s 
room.  Pray,  “ God  be  gracious  to  my  boy.  Gird  him  round 
with  mercy.”  Sing,  sister,  sing!  Sitting  alone  where  the  moon- 
light falls  on  thy  fingers  as  they  wander  over  the  keys,  sing  soft 
and  low  the  very  hymn  you  sang  at  parting,  “ God  be  with  you 
till  Ave  meet  again.”  Sing!  maiden,  till  the  tears  falling  fast 
tell  the  fears  uprising  in  thy  heart. 

Look,  old  father,  down  the  road  Avhere  the  peaceful  world 
lies  transfigured  in  the  mellow  beams  of  the  moon;  down  the 
road  where  he  went  away  so  cheery,  brave,  tender,  looking  back- 
wards from  the  coach  with  many  a wave  of  the  hand  and  fond 
good-bye.  Listen,  father,  to  the  whip-poor-will  in  the  copse 


298 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


answering  the  katydid  in  the  hedge,  frogs  shrilling  from  the 
swamp,  an  owl  hooting  from  the  woods ; the  air  grows  cold,  a 
chilling  sense  of  discomfort  shakes  thy  frame. 

Ah,  if  thou  would’st  see  thy  son  now,  thy  hope,  thy  pride — 
among  knaves.  He  stakes  his  means — he  wins — he  has  doubled 
his  fund.  Good,  good — his  face  glows,  his  pulses  are  rythmic 
to  the  music  of  success.  Excited,  confident,  reckless,  he  looses — 
doubles  his  loss — forgets  all  prudence,  unrolls  the  savings  of 
years  on  the  little  farm — mother’s  needle,  father’s  plow,  sister’s 
music  lessons,  earned  that  hoard.  He  piles  it  on  the  board  with 
burning  eyes  set  on  the  cards,  watches  them  coming  one  by  one. 
Oh,  unpicturable  horror ! IMoney,  honor,  parental  hopes — all 
earthly  and  eternal  weal  staked  on  that  hazard.  The  Sphinx- 
faced scoundrel  slips  the  card — the  young  man  hears  the  word 
“ Lost!  ” — sees  the  sharpers  laugh  as  the  dealer  draws  in  his  all. 
The  room  swims  before  his  sight ; madness  seizes  him  as  the 
sneering  taunt,  “ Another  sucker  done  up,”  smites  him  like  a 
lash  across  his  face. 

Frenzied,  he  clears  the  table  at  a bound,  his  brown  fingers 
close  around  the  white  throat  of  the  lean-faced  hellion  who  has 
robbed  him.  Like  a tiger  uncaged  he  hurls  him  to  the  floor, 
and  fronts  the  crowd  of  desperados  with  blazing  face.  In  vain 
are  all  his  struggles ; many  leap  on  him,  he  is  beaten,  kicked, 
hustled  down  stairs,  where,  hatless  and  bruised,  he  madly  pounds 
the  heavy  door  till  his  hand  is  a mass  of  bleeding  pain.  All  in 
vain.  He  turns  helplessly  at  last  to  the  street,  and  throiigh  the 
gray  light  of  dawn  finds  his  room.  For  hours  he  hangs  on 
misery’s  brink ; haggard  remorse  sits  opposite  and  suggests 
suicide.  Swift  as  a homing  dove  his  thoughts  fly  to  the  farm. 

He  sees  his  father  in  the  furrow,  his  mother  in  the  door- 
way, her  face  as  radiant  as  the  morning.  She  gathers  a few 
honeysuckles  for  his  empty  room,  to  her  it  is  a sanctuary  now, 
and  he  liked  them  so,  and  ’twill  seem  as  though  he  was  coming 
home  soon. 

An  organ  beneath  his  room  strikes  up  an  air  heavy  with  old 
memories;  the  tune  of  “The  Old  Folks  at  Home.”  quavers 
through  his  window.  AVith  a shuddering  cry — “A  gambler!  a 
gambler!  Oh,  God,  be  merciful ; let  me  die.”  he  falls  by  the  bed- 
side and  burning  tears  are  vain  to  staunch  the  hurt  in  his  heart. 

Lie  is  now  in  the  whirlpool;  return  seems  impossible.  You 
have  seen  an  apple  tree  in  Alay,  rosy  in  pink  and  white  blossoms. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


299 


murmurous  with  bees,  glad  with  birds  and  glorious  with  sun- 
shine. In  one  night  the  frost  kills  the  bloom  ; next  day  the  tree 
hangs  with  damp,  blighted  blossoms  and  blackened  buds,  an 
unlovely  spectacle. 

Few  escape  the  bitter  end  who  begin  a gamester’s  career. 

Next  we  find  him  in  snuggeries,  curtained  from  basement 
bar-rooms,  studying  the  cards  at  midnight,  I'obbing  unwary 
A^erdants.  Conscience  is  seared  as  with  a hot  iron.  His  heart  is 
flint.  He  strives  with  drink  to  banish  thoughts  of  home,  heaven 
and  God ; grorvs  morose,  cunning,  merciless ; works  a little, 
hurries  again  to  the  feverish  excitement  of  the  game,  herds  with 
greasy  disreputables  in  foul  dens,  amid  the  reek  of  pipes  and 
hideous  blasphemy.  Soiled,  unkempt,  rag-clad,  he  nears  the 
bottom  of  the  slant.  One  night,  crazed  with  rdle  rum,  he 
mingles  in  a fight  with  fellow  outcasts ; blood  is  shed ; the  alarm 
brings  the  clattering  patrol  wagon,  and  through  the  red  of  early 
dawn  he  rides  to  a cell  in  murderer’s  row.  Convicted,  con- 
demned, he  goes  to  prison  for  life — years  pass — his  sorrowing 
parents  think  him  dead.  He  is  dead.  He  died  that  night  when 
he  climbed  the  stairs  to  “ Old  Brad’s  den.” 

His  post  is  to  open  and  close  a gate  in  the  prison  yard. 
Seven  years  in  stripes,  holding  out  a hand  which  he  will  not 
take,  trying  to  stir  hope  within  him.  They  talk  to  him  of  free- 
dom and  home.  He  makes  no  sign  of  pleasure  ; hopeless  vacuity 
rests  on  his  imbruted  face.  He  stares  at  his  gate,  shuts  it,  and 
says,  “ Seven  years  dead,  seven  years  dead.”  There  he  stands, 
and  will  stand,  till  carried  to  the  little  graveyard  of  the  prison, 
touching  at  last  the  lowest  level  of  the  slant  on  which  the 
gambler  stands. 

I charge  you  with  a jealous  affection,  born  of  an  unfeigned 
brotherhood,  and  based  on  many  years’  study  of  the  effects  of 
this  vice.  Beware  of  the  beginning  of  gambling.  Have  no 
commerce  with  the  monster  iniquity. 

First  of  all,  because  it  dethrones  God.  Seek  its  victims  in 
the  ranks  of  bankrupt  merchants,  in  the  cells  of  criminals,  in  the 
cellars  of  shame,  or  garrets  of  poverty ; talk  with  them,  or  with 
those  who  have  suffered  through  them,  and  you  will  find  that 
the  sad  sequence  of  misery  began  with  this  heinous  affront  to 
God,  viz. : a practical  denial  of  His  very  existence  and  setting 
up  in  His  place  a blind  deity  called  Chance,  before  whom  they 
bowed,  and  on  whose  favor  they  risked  their  all.  Even  if  in 


300 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


their  darkened  mind  the  votaries  of  gaming  allo'W  God  to  exist, 
they  deny  Elis  government  of  the  affairs  of  men.  They  flee 
away  from  all  works  that  can  win  the  help  of  Jehovah,  and  ask 
only  the  help  of  fortune.  This  is  heathenry  of  the  worst  sort. 
The  farmer  plows,  plants,  cultivates,  and  hopes  that  the  God 
of  nature  will  help  him  by  sending  sun,  rain  and  dew,  that  to- 
gether they  may  produce  the  harvest.  The  sailor,  by  the  march 
of  the  constellations  and  the  veracity  of  the  magnetic  needle 
which  God  offers  for  his  guidance,  comes  at  last  to  port.  The 
mason  builds  his  wall  by  the  laws  of  God,  and  his  plumb  line 
and  level  bear  eloquent  witness  that  he  wishes  to  base  his  work 
on  the  certain  laws  which  steadfastly  bind  the  worlds  together. 
These  men,  however  much  they  ignore  God  in  their  speech, 
keep  faith  with  Him  in  their  work,  knowing  full  well  that  they 
can  only  succeed  in  any  task  by  keeping  in  line  with  His  laws. 
Thus  they  have  yoked  the  elements  to  the  car  of  progress.  The 
gambler,  however,  mocks  at  God’s  laws  and  insolently  banishes 
Him.  He  asks  no  help  from  fixed  laws  ordained  by  the  Father 
to  bless  His  children;  he  scorns  the  co-operation  of  Nature, 
sets  up  a fetish  called  Fortune,  and  grovelling,  courts  its  smiles. 
I know  of  no  form  of  paganism  more  base  than  this,  and  it  is 
not  surprising  that  in  the  worship  of  this  block-eyed  god,  the 
most  obscene  rites  and  debasing  superstitions  are  practiced. 
Dreams,  charms,  spells,  incantations, ' black  art,  even  the  help 
of  the  powers  of  darkness  have  been  used  in  wooing  his  favor. 
The  most  frightful  depths  of  moral  and  mental  depravity  are 
touched  in  this  shameful  business.  The  negro  who  sells  stolen 
articles  to  buy  lottery  tickets  has  some  gruesome  cabalistic 
secret  which  he  fondly  hopes  will  bring  the  favor  of  fortune ; 
the  lady  Avho  cons  the  dream-book  in  her  room  to  learn  which 
number  to  buy,  and  fancies  her  night  vision  of  a gallows  tree 
or  a burning  Bible  will  bring  propitious  fate,  are  alike  far  from 
reason  and  from  God. 

Not  only  does  gambling  dethrone  God,  but  it  degrades  man. 
In  this  evil  work  it  is  the  most  certain  and  effectual  of  all  vices. 
It  commonly  works  in  iniquitious  league  with  other  sins,  but 
alone  it  eats  out  honesty,  affection  and  virtue  from  the  heart, 
and  leaves  it  as  empty  as  a dead  man’s  hand. 

When  this  vice  has  had  free  course  through  the  moral  nature 
for  a few  years,  the  man  is  a mere  shell,  a human  husk,  within 
all  is  punk  and  hollowness. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


301 


The  law  by  which  the  force  of  gravitation  acts  is  not  more 
resistless  or  irrevocable  than  this  law  of  gaming.  Other  vices 
give  their  devotees  intervals  of  rest,  intermissions  growing 
briefer  until  the  last  stages  bring  woe  upon  the  heels  of  woe  to 
drive  the  victim  to  his  doom.  The  gambling  demon,  once  ad- 
mitted to  the  mind,  never  leaves.  He  haunts  his  slaves  every 
waking  hour,  qnd  flits  on  filthy  wings  athwart  his  dreams, 
spectre-like  he  walks  at  his  side,  keeping  pace  with  his  prey. 
The  swift  result  of  his  influence  is  complete  moral  atrophy. 

Ask  yourself  this  question : Where  is  the  dearest  spot  to 
man  in  all  the  wide  creation’s  bound?  Search  all  the  stars  that 
God  has  spilled  like  jewels  through  the  blue  abyss.  Roam  from 
bloom  to  bloom  of  that  one  tree  once  enrapt  in  primeval  night, 
which,  at  His  word,  burst  into  blossoms  of  worlds  like  this. 
Yea,  visit  heaven  itself,  explore  the  city  which  has  foundations 
whose  builder  and  maker  is  God;  the  city  of  the  jewelled  walls 
and  gates  of  pearl.  Stand  where  the  healing  trees  trail  their 
branches  in  the  crystal  river  of  life ; or  walk  amidst  the  asphodel 
and  amaranth  that  deck  the  fadeless  green  of  the  Paradise  of  the 
Saints,  and  you  will  not  find  one  spot  so  dear,  so  precious  to 
our  race,  as  that  Judean  hill  whereon  hangs  One  whose  holy 
hands  were  nailed  for  our  salvation  on  the  cross.  There,  where 
wondering  heaven  bends  to  look  pityingly  on  the  exalted  One, 
where  dumb  nature  strives  with  darkened  skies  to  hide  the 
shame,  where  man,  mad  with  rage,  curses  the  Christ,  and 
woman,  bowed  with  sorrow,  bewails  her  Lord.  There,  on  that 
most  sacred  spot  in  all  the  universe,  in  the  holiest  hour  ever 
marked  on  the  dial  of  time,  when  heaven,  earth  and  hell  are 
quick  with  interest,  who  is  it  sits  unmoved,  unobservant,  un- 
stirred, concerned  only  with  the  game?  Ruthless  gamblers  sit 
beneath  the  lowering  skies,  and  on  the  palsied  earth  they  shake 
the  dice  to  win  the  garments  of  the  man  of  sorrows. 

This  infamy  was  needed  to  make  Christ’s  death  as  ignomin- 
ious as  a demon  could  desire.  Only  Apollyon  could  suggest  the 
shameful  scene  on  which  the  dying  eyes  of  the  Son  of  man 
rested,  as  the  crowning  demonism  of  it  all.  A group  of  gamblers 
bending  over  the  few  robes  Avhich  were  all  His  possessions.  O. 
Satan,  that  was  a monster  stroke  to  embitter  His  last  hour!  No 
other  being  but  a gambler  could  have  put  a fit  climax  to  that 
day’s  iniquity. 

At  the  time  that  I was  apprenticed  to  the  bricklaying  trade. 


302 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


I knew  a lad  who  began  to  herd  with  gamesters.  He  learned 
that  trade,  I learned  mine.  He  earned  money,  so  did  I.  I was 
proud  of  mine,  and  now  I hold  up  my  hands  and  say,  “ If  my 
voice  should  fail,  I have  an  honest  trade  in  my  fingers  by  which 
I can  win  my  bread.” 

I take  my  little  ones  in  this  very  city  to  the  walls  Avhere  I 
worked.  I show  them  the  courses  of  brick  their  father  laid,  and 
proudly  tell  the  story  of  my  toil.  Can  this  other  man  do  like- 
wise? Can  he  hold  up  his  hands  before  men  and  say,  “I  have 
an  honest  trade  in  my  fingers?”  No,  no;  his  face  crimsons 
when  his  trade  is  mentioned,  and  though  he  spent  more  years 
at  it  than  I did  at  mine,  he  is  ashamed  of  his  work  to-day. 

Young  men,  learn  an  honest  traae  which  tends  toward  man- 
liness. Be  content  with  simple  life  and  frugal  means  until  you 
can  rise  honorably  to  luxuries.  Acquire  no  money  by  sinful 
methods.  Do  not  begin  gaming  as  a relaxation,  for  it  will  soon 
become  a business.  Avoid  pool-rooms,  race-courses,  faro  banks, 
cock-fights,  policy  shops,  lotteries,  raffles,  betting  of  every  form. 
All  such  things  are  perilous.  Where  one  grows  rich,  one  hun- 
dred grow  poor,  and  the  one  who  wins  is  poorest  of  all.  No  man 
is  as  pitiably  poor  as  the  man  who  has  money  won  by  gambling. 
This  form  of  evil  doing  will  tempt  you  everywhere,  on  rail  train 
and  steamboat,  in  hotels,  clubs  and  barber  shops;  in  the  loft  of 
the  barn,  or  the  carpeted  parlor.  On  the  race-track  and  fair 
grounds,  week  days  and  Sundays,  day  and  night,  winter  and 
summer,  at  home  or  abroad,  in  public  and  private,  it  will  meet 
you.  The  suave  snob,  the  seedy  scoundrel,  will  inveigle  you, 
try  to  win  your  confidence,  borrow  or  lend,  lead  or  drive;  coax 
or  threaten,  sometimes  with  words  smooth  as  butter,  then  with 
words  that  smite  like  hail.  Stand  fast,  my  son.  “ When  sinners 
entice  thee,  consent  thou  not.”  ?kIoney  unearned  is  blessingless. 
God’s  law  is  this;  If  a man  gets  anything  from  Nature  he  must 
give  labor.  If  he  gets  anything  from  his  neighbor  he  must  give 
a fair  equivalent.  Only  money  gotten  in  this  way  can  bring  a 
blessing. 

It  is  on  record  that  one  lottery  drawing  in  London  was  fol- 
lowed by  the  suicide  of  fifty  persons  who  held  blank  tickets. 
V'hat  rapacious  miscreants  they  must  be  who  ply  this  trade  of 
spoilation. 

It  is  well  to  bind  the  passions  and  lusts  with  strong  vows 
and  good  resolutions.  It  is  best  of  all  to  have  the  soul  bound 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


303 


by  the  heaven-born  spell  which  fills  the  whole  being  with  delight. 
This  bliss  ineffable  makes  earthly  and  carnal  joys  seem  con- 
temptible, and  drowns  every  evil  desire  in  the  great  cry  from 
the  heart’s  depths ; 

“ Nearer,  my  God,  to  Thee, 

Nearer  to  Thee.” 

The  third  count  in  this  black  indictment  is  that  gaming  not 
only  dethrones  God  and  degrades  man,  but  destroys  the  most  blessed 
of  all  human  institutions,  the  home. 

Gamblers  flock  together  as  naturally  as  lean-necked  vul- 
tures ; they  hunt  in  packs  like  coyotes,  and  intermingle  like  a 
knot  of  clammy  vipers  that  crawl  in  the  dank  gloom  of  a sunless 
canyon.  They  have  no  share  in  the  sweet  sanctities  of  the  fire- 
side, and  desire  vehemently  to  be  elsewhere.  Even  when  the 
gamester  sits  at  his  own  table,  or  embraces  his  own  children, 
his  heart  is  in  another  place.  Physical  contact  is  not  intimacy. 
He  may  kiss  the  wife  of  his  bosom  and  be  as  far  from  her  as 
the  east  is  from  the  west.  Judas  kissed  Christ,  yet  at  that  mo- 
ment one  was  in  heaven  and  the  other  in  hell.  Pie  hurries  away 
to  boon  companions,  and  to  the  familiar  scenes  his  soul  covets. 
In  vain  the  little  ones  beseech  him  to  abide  at  home,  in  vain  the 
wife  entreats  him  to  continue  at  work,  in  vain  the  mother  asks 
the  comfort  of  his  presence,  the  help  of  his  strong  arm.  Pie 
hopes  to  make  a great  winning  some  day,  to  buy  a fine  house  for 
his  family,  then  to  make  amends,  turn  over  a new  leaf,  and 
soberly  take  up  the  duties  of  manhood.  Some  lucky  hazard, 
some  windfall,  wager  or  bet  will  lift  him  to  the  level  of  his 
dreams.  Meanwhile  ‘he  sinks  deeper,  debauches  himself  more 
and  more,  till  home  becomes  a hateful  place ; he  deserts  his 
family,  or  in  self-defense  is  forbidden  to  cross  the  sill  of  the 
house  he  has  desecrated. 

I have  gone  on  missions  of  comfort  to  the  homes  of  the 
drunkard,  the  bankrupt,  the  convict,  but  never  have  I seen  on 
woman’s  face  such  unutterable  grief  and  pitiable  misery  as  in 
the  home  of  the  gambler.  A cyclone  cannot  level,  nor  a fire 
consume  a home  so  surely  as  gambling.  The  infatuated  bond- 
man  to  this  vice  will  let  the  fire  go  out  on  the  hearth  where  his 
helpless  brood  crouches  in  the  cold.  He  will  let  them  ask  mother 
in  the  lampless  twilight  with  tear-stained  faces,  why  papa  does 
not  come.  How  can  the  wife  tell  the  weans,  what  delays  his 
steps? 


304 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


Was  ever  vroman’s  love  insulted  as  he  insults  it?  If  some 
pure  passion  for  art  or  high  scientific  research  detained  him,  she 
would  smile,  and  explain  it  to  the  little  ones.  If  profound  books 
or  merciful  work  of  benevolence  kept  him  late ; if  some  grave 
problem  of  social  welfare  held-him  from  her  arms  for  awhile,  she 
would  bide  the  time,  but  the  indignity  put  on  her  is  this,  that 
a loving,  virtuous  wife  with  all  womanly  charms  and  gentle 
ministries,  waits  unheeded  while  he  consorts  with  disreputable 
dicers,  and  the  clinging  kisses  of  sweet-lipped  babes  are  for- 
gotten that  he  may  enjoy  the  company  of  a lot  of  heartless 
card  mongers  hanging  on  the  frayed  edges  of  society. 

When  a man  will  toss  aAvay  the  priceless  jewel  of  wifely 
love  to  clutch  a bubble  like  this,  turn  from  a warm,  throbbing, 
palpitant,  gentle  helpmeet  to  herd  with  jackals,  he  puts  a shame- 
ful affront  on  her,  one  that  he  will  have  to  answer  for  at  the  bar 
of  God. 

Beginning  with  the  specious  plea  of  amusement,  the  player 
soon  finds  the  game  grow  tasteless  as  an  egg  without  salt  unless 
there  is  a stake — at  first  a small  stake,  a few  dimes  or  a dollar. 
Then  comes  the  race-track,  the  raffle,  the  lottery.  Life’s  duties 
seem  dull,  hilarious  comradeship  cheers  him  on,  the  perverted 
mind  loathes  clean  food. 

Sunday  is  the  chosen  day  for  this  transgression.  If  the 
man  works  at  all  he  slights  his  job,  longs  for  a rainy  day  or 
breakdown  in  the  machinery  to  let  him  off ; quarrels  with  his 
overseer,  hastens  to  the  card  table  to  sit  till  late  at  night ; look 
on  the  foxiest  tricksters  around  him  with  deference,  thinks  it 
a fine  thing  to  be  called  a “ sport,”  smells  of  tobacco  and  brandy, 
is  put  by  society  in  moral  quarantine,  barred  out  of  desirable  and 
helpful  company,  grows  more  reckless  and  with  all  his  honor 
raveled  to  dirty  shreds,  becomes  a hanger-on,  a roper,  a steerer, 
or  double-faced  decoy  to  lure  others  to  the  sacrifice. 

These  are  the  usual  gradations.  Noav,  he  is  an  Ishmael, 
with  only  two  motives  of  action,  hatred  of  society,  and  fierce 
lust  for  gain.  These  burn  in  his  breast  till  the  suicide’s  draught, 
or  the  crack  of  some  outraged  victim’s  pistol  puts  an  end  to  the 
man  who  could  date  his  downfall  to  the  day  he  took  up  cards 
for  an  amusement. 

He  who  might  have  been  the  head  of  a happy  household 
goes  down  to  death,  his  highest  hopes  being  that  he  may  be 
permitted  to  creep  back. 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


305 


“ To  the  vile  dvist  from  which  he  sprung, 

LTnwept,  unhonored  and  unsung.” 

His  brother  gamesters  buy  a wreath  of  flowers  for  his  cheap 
coffln,  and  the  blossoms  wither  as  the  baneful  breath  of  these 
men  falls  on  them  when  the}^  file  by  for  a farewell  look.  Poor 
lilies,  you  are  out  of  place.  A bunch  of  nightshades  twisted 
with  thorns  were  fitter  for  that  casket.  The  preacher  tries  hard 
to  say  something  consolatory,  gives  it  up  and  dismisses  the 
group,  his  soul  sick  within  him  as  he  thinks  on  the  outcast’s 
doom  and  the  fate  of  his  fellows,  already  hurrying  away  to  their 
den  for  another  game.  Such  is  the  end  of  a sinful  life  wasted 
in  gambling  and  associate  vices. 

The  fourth  and  last  charge  I bring  against  gambling  is  as 
heavy  as  any  yet  stated,  and  is  the  direct  and  final  result  of  the 
other  three. 

It  damns  the  victim’s  soul! 

Can  the  transient  delights  of  a few  years  of  idleness  and 
sensual  gratification  atone  for  an  eternity  of  banishment  from 
hope  and  heaven?  Will  the  poor  pleasures  of  the  voluptuary, 
the  theatre  and  the  wine  cup,  the  fast  pace,  the  boughten  smiles 
of  wantons,  the  flashing  pin,  the  showy  clothes,  the  jingling  fob, 
the  curled  mustache,  and  the  whole  empty  round  which  the 
successful  gamester  treads,  solace  him  for  the  loss  of  his  im- 
mortal soul?  Will  the  fleeting  hours  spent  with  unscrupulous 
men,  adepts  in  trickery  and  confidence  games,  touts  and  tipsters, 
skilled  in  marked  cards,  bogus  boxes,  wheel  of  (mis)  fortune 
and  loaded  dice,  adroit  in  fascinating  the  unwary  with  hollow 
smiles  and  lying  speeches,  like  honey  mingled  in  the  hemlock’s 
poisoned  draught — will  these  repay  the  willing  serf  of  Satan  for 
a life  wasted  and  a soul  passed  into  hell?  Surely  not  all  the 
pleasures  of  this  high-domed,  blossoming  world  heaped  in  the 
balance  can  outweigh  the  loss  of  heaven. 

Is  there  anything  in  fallacious  hopes,  unstable  judgment, 
despairing  ventures  or  desperate  ruin,  attended  by  parental  grief, 
rejected  love,  and  never  dying  remorse,  to  make  men  seek  the 
blandishments  of  iniquity? 

Let  not  this  seducer  of  youth  corrupt  your  morals,  pull 
down  fortune  and  cloud  your  future  by  his  false  promises.  Let 
the  downward  career  of  others  prove  efifectual  warning.  Rouse 
not  this  ungovernable  lust  for  gain  by  hazard  in  your  breast. 
Let  the  lottery,  faro  bank,  pool-room,  race-course,  all  such 

20 


306 


GAMBLING  AND  GAMBLING  DEVICES. 


places  be  as  pest  houses  to  you,  unless  you  are  prepared  to 
brave  God’s  intolerable  scorn. 

Remember  that  the  man  who,  through  any  device  of  chance 
or  knavery,  takes  money  without  giving  anything  in  return, 
belongs  in  the  class  with  the  swindler  and  the  thief.  Remember 
that  on  the  track  of  this  evil  follow  defalcations,  embezzlements, 
breaches  of  trust,  false  entries,  forgeries,  misappropriation  of 
trust  funds  and  crimes  innumerable. 

Rebuke  this  insidious  flattery  with  stern  face  and  do  not 
tamper  with  the  lightest  fringe  of  it. 

The  burglar  and  the  pirate  are  respectable  citizens  com- 
pared to  these  vampires.  Even  the  bookmaker,  who  controls 
not  only  the  horse,  but  the  jockey  whose  skill  you  fondly  hope 
to  get  a fair  chance  to  win,  is  honorable  by  comparison.  I had 
despaired  of  finding  a match  for  the  lottery  shark,  until  I saw 
the  man  who  would  juggle  with  corn  and  wheat,  cornering  the 
necessities  of  life,  using  the  increase  on  the  price  of  the  poor 
man’s  loaf  to  line  his  pocket,  and  by  combination  of  capital  and 
shrewd  manipulations  of  contingencies,  making  the  sewing- 
woman’s  oil  a little  dearer  that  he  might  pile  his  OAvn  full  board, 
and  indulge  in  more  luxurious  or  Avasteful  excess. 

I fear  these  men  are  nursing  a Carracas  earthquake  under 
the  social  system  of  their  land. 

Perchance  these  Avords  may  come  under  the  eye  of  one 
whose  broAv  bears  already  the  stigma  of  this  craft. 

Brother,  there  must  be  hidden  someAvhere  in  your  heart  a 
remnant  of  your  early  purity.  Drop  the  implements  of  your 
calling;  let  my  hand  slip  into  yours;  come  apart  Avhere  Ave  can 
sit  and  talk  together.  Pardon  me  if  I press  the  question  home 
to  your  conscience.  What  is  to  be  the  outcome  of  all  this? 
Shake  off  the  pals)^  of  years,  I pray  you,  and  essay  an  ansAver. 
I wait  to  hear  your  OAvn  A’erdict  on  your  case.  You  cannot  al- 
ways be  blind  to  the  haA'oc  you  are  making;  you  cannot  ahvays 
be  deaf  to  the  piteous  cries  that  go  up  to  lieaA-en’s  chancery 
from  women  and  children,  kenneled  in  extreme  Avant  by  reason 
of  your  profession. 

Rise  up,  shake  off  this  dark  enchantment — dash  doAvn  the 
dice,  shred  the  cards  into  the  flames — pass  out  into  the  pure  air. 
and  Avhile  there  yet  is  hope  ask  heaA*enly  help  to  break  your 
heavy  chains. 


WHAT  THE  PRESS  SAYS: 


Air.  Quinn  is  able  to  present  to  his  audience  a most  effective 
experience  and  a telling  portraiture  of  the  evils  of  gambling. — 
Christian  Advocate,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Quinn  deserves  and  should  have,  the  recognition  and  en- 
couragement of  the  Christian  community. — Christian  at  Work,  N . Y . 

No  more  practical  sermon  was  preached  in  New  York  yester- 
day than  that  delivered  by  John  P.  Quinn.  Association  Hall  was 
packed  to  the  doors  by  an  audience  which  followed  the  words  of 
the  speaker  with  almost  breathless  interest. — Morning  Journal,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Quinn  in  his  lecture,  pictures  in  striking  language  the  evil 
effects  of  gambling. — Chicago  Inter  Ocean. 

The  work  of  ex-gambler  John  P.  Quinn,  in  Boston  bears  fruit. 
His  converts  are  numerous. — Boston  Evening  Record. 

John  Philip  Quinn’s  powerful  and  practical  sermon  against 
gambling  is  convincing.  The  impressive  and  pathetic  story  of  his 
life  and  experiences  as  a professional  gambler,  thrilled  and  swayed 
the  large  assemblage  present  in  a wonderful  manner. — Boston 
Herald. 

After  witnessing  Air.  Quinn’s  marvelous  exploit,  no  one  save 
a lunatic,  would,  we  are  convinced,  dream  of  pitting  himself  against 
a professional  gambler — London  Daily  Telegraph. 

An  exhibition  with  the  moral  purpose  of  showing  the  dangers 
they  run  who  gamble  for  money  with  persons  of  superior  skill. — 
London  Daily  Mail. 

Alessrs.  Alaskelyne  and  Devant  are  very  enterprising  caterers 
for  popular  entertainment ; and  it  was  a bright  idea  on  their  part 
to  engage  Air.  John  Philip  Quinn  (for  ten  weeks). — John  Bull. 

Air.  Quinn  demonstrates  to  the  audience  with  absolute  success. 
The  exhibition  is  most  curious  and  fascinating  to  watch,  both  for 
Air.  Quinn’s  personality  and  the  unfailing  ease  and  certainty  with 
which  he  makes  the  cards  and  dice,  and  the  several  variations  on 
the  roulette  board  which  he  uses,  do  exactly  what  he  wants. — Lon- 
don Times. 

It  is  certain  that  Air.  Quinn  has  done  his  best  to  bring  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  general  public  the  method  by  which  they  are 
swindled  by  unscrupulous  men. — Sunday  Circle. 

His  performance  is  interesting  and  instructive. — Irish  Inde- 
pendent (Dublin.) 

Mr.  Quinn  has  an  act  which  doubtless  should  prove  a great 
warning  to  men  of  all  ages  who  patronize  pasteboard. — Montreal 
Herald. 


Mr.  Quinn  successfully  exposes  the  so-called  games  of  chance. 
— Ottawa  Free  Press. 

J.  P.  Quinn  made  a distinct  hit.  His  revelations  of  the  gam- 
bling game  were  highly  interesting  and  instructive. — Buffalo  Even- 
ing Times. 

And  the  demonstration  is  an  interesting  thing  for  the  young 
man  who  thinks  he  knows  “ a thing  or  two  ” and  thinks  he  is  “ fly  ” 
enough  to  checkmate  any  “ sharp  ” who  tries  to  take  his  money 
away  from  him. — Cleveland  Plain  Dealer. 

WHAT  OTHERS  SAY: 

This  is  to  certify  that  John  P.  Quinn  has  permission  to  give  his 
lecture  and  entertainment  in  New  York  City.  The  police  and  other 
officers,  will  kindly  do  all  in  their  power  to  see  that  he  is  not  inter- 
fered with. — W.  L.  Strong,  Mayor  of  New  York  City. 

John  P.  Quinn  is  not  required  to  take  out  a license  for  his  illus- 
trated lectures  on  gambling  in  Philadelphia. — Geo.  Bradford  Carr, 
Special  Attorney  for  Com.  of  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Quinn’s  illustrated  lecture  should  be  heard  and  seen  by 
every  young  man  in  any  land.  The  police  officials  will  render  to 
the  public  great  good  by  having  him  give  his  illustrated  lecture  in 
their  city. — Ex-Gov.  Charles  P.  Johnson,  of  ^Missouri. 

We  had  hlr.  Quinn  in  our  auditorium,  before  a delighted  audi- 
ence. We  therefore  endorse  and  recommend  him  to  all  our  pastors 
with  whom  he  may  come  in  contact. — Fathers  P.  M.  and  T.  M. 
Cauly,  St.  Patrick’s  Catholic  Church,  Erie,  Pa. 

Mr.  Quinn  lectured  in  Plymouth  Church.  I cordially  commend 
him  and  his  work  to  all. — Rev.  Lyman  Abbott,  D.  D. 

^'Ir.  Quinn  spoke  in  Emmanuel  Church  very  effectively.  I 
recommend  him  heartily. — Rev.  0.  P.  Gifford. 

John  P.  Quinn  was  called  to  our  city  the  second  time.  He 
closed  every  gambling  den  in  our  city.  A number  of  men  were  con- 
verted. I advise  every  church  in  this  country  to  send  for  him. — 
Rev.  R.  V.  Hunter,  President  Civic  Federation,  Terre  Haute,  Ind. 

LECTURES  AND  MOVING  PICTURE  FILMS 

based  on  subject  matter  contained  in  this  book  are  now  available  for 
Churches,  Societies,  Educational  Institutions,  and  Entertainments 
under  other  auspices. 

For  information  and  terms  apply, 

JOHN  P.  QUINN  CO., 

Canton,  Ohio. 


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